Tag: Bill Freehan | No Filter Sports

Episode 209: One TRUE BLUE Ohioan!

January 18, 2021 01:34:36

Welcome to No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page and Denny McLain and Bob Page!

U-M star, Olympic gold medalist, first-round NBA draft choice — the long basketball life of guest PHIL HUBBARD!
What a quarterback dual: Brady vs Brees! But as often happens with great pitching match-ups — a DUD.
The boys recap the weekend’s NFL playoffs, look ahead to this Sunday’s title games AND to the Super Bowl.
The WHAT Bowl? A foreign concept, of course, to the Lions — now embarking on their LATEST rebuilding program.
Should they have hired Robert Saleh instead? Or Urban Meyer? Bet that if a mistake can be made, the FL’s will make it.
A great goaltender? At times. A great Detroit Red Wing? Always! And now HOWIE hangs ’em up.
Bob warned it might happen. Denny pooh-poohed him, but Michigan did indeed go down at Minnesota.
Now will COVID allow U-M to play Maryland or MSU to play Illinois? Bob asks, no, BEGS, the Big 14 for just one thing.
Denny rips his former team — again — for stubbornly sitting out free agency without a splash.
And he rips baseball’s Hall of Fame for continuing to snub one of his greatest friends and Tiger teammates.
Those stories, a top Detroit sportscaster skewered in YOUR mailbag segment and more — right here!

Episode 205: Bear Bryant’s Last Captain: Steve Mott

January 3, 2021 01:33:22

Welcome to No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page, Denny McLain — and that’s IT!

A new era for the show begins after Eli’s self-imposed “retirement.” WE hope he comes back to us.
Meantime, ex-Lions center STEVE MOTT, one of the great players in Alabama history, joins us on THE Big Game and more.
FREE BEER? This is what Lions fans are left with after ANOTHER disastrous year?! The FL’s are even messing THIS up!
Is Matthew Stafford coming back? Who’s the new GM? The LATEST head coach? So MANY questions.
And who speaks for YOU? A famous voice from Texas, through remarks intended for a different team.
They’re partying in Columbus and the Bama game hasn’t even been played. WHY? Jim Harbaugh’s staying at Michigan!
No Eli? Producer Brandon McFee may be just as opinionated! He and Bob tangle over a big issue in college football.
After destroying the fleabag Duke’s Mayo Bowl, somewhere Mr. Z is smiling. The game came to a fitting — and hysterical — climax!
How good is U-M basketball! How good is U-M freshman Hunter Dickinson?! Bob says enjoy him while you can.
Dave DeBusschere must be rolling over after a WUSSY move by his once-proud alma mater.
Dumped by a phony girlfriend — then rejected by the Pistons too! But guess who’s getting the last laugh?
Those stories, Denny remembers MLB’s seven HOFers we lost in 2020, YOUR mailbag and much more — right here!

Episode 183: What a Magical Time it Was!

October 12, 2020 01:30:36

You never wanted to miss a game!

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

The Bird chirping for the Tigers and BRUCE KIMM behind the plate. Mark Fidrych’s personal catcher joins us!
Kaline, Brock, Seaver, Gibson — and now two MORE baseball immortals are gone: Whitey Ford and Joe Morgan.
LeBron says a championship is a championship — is still a championship. The boys say, “Not so fast!”
Bob cites abysmal TV ratings for the NBA Finals and wonders if the league will ever be the same.
Are you ready for some football — on TUESDAY nights too? Get used to it as COVID-19 postpones more games.
Ya say if the Lions lose to a miserable Jaguars team Sunday you wanna fire Matt Patricia? Who’s taking his place?
Stevie Y with another flurry of signings and the future looks bright! So Wings fans CLAIM, but will the honeymoon last?
And Eli’s apoplectic over the LATEST cavalry charge by the mindless P.C. Posse.
“I traded a WHITE CAPTAIN for you!” highlights “This Day in Sports,” plus YOUR mailbag and much more — right here.
Eli has ‘”This Day in Sports,” Bob has YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 178: Welcome, Lary! THIS is How We Roll!

September 25, 2020 01:26:20

Good luck?!

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Fred Heumann!

Ex-MLB and U-M pitcher Lary Sorensen will have a role in many of our future shows. Did HE get an earful today as the boys fuss and FEUD!
First — a fiery exchange over new Lions’ boss Sheila Ford Hamp. As usual, it’s Eli and Denny vs. Bob with “let’s give her a chance!” vs. “what a joke!”
Then later, a REALLY “fiery exchange” between Denny and Bob over baseball!
Denny also continues to insist the FL’s will NOT fire Matt Patricia this year. Eli: hold the phone on that one with an 0-4 start looming.
The legendary Gale Sayers passed away this week at 77. Was he the first great BLACK halfback ever?
Sayers was arguably THE greatest running back PERIOD. So, who was MLB’s greatest starting pitcher? Bob says only that nobody’s ever been BETTER than de Grom.
With the Tigers’ season essentially over for some time, what to do about Miggy SUDDENLY looking like MIGGY again?
A listener wonders where on EARTH Denny got his “scoop” that the Tigers would name Lance Parrish to replace Gardy?
Get ready for a whopping 16 teams in the MLB playoffs — permanently — or even more! Ya like that idea?
Since Denny has ZERO interest in hockey, that must mean none of YOU cares about hockey — right? Bob still pays tribute to two famous Michigan hockey products.
Eli has “This Day in Sports History” then wages another battle with Bob over YOUR Mailbag. WHEW! What a DAY! Those stories and more right here. Be ready!

Episode 173: Detroit’s own Ernie Whitt: CANADIAN Sports God!

September 7, 2020 01:32:16

I tricked them for a lot of years!

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

“I might be the best manager who was never hired.” Yet ERNIE WHITT had one helluva playing career with the Blue Jays. The Detroit native joins us!
One of the toughest opponents Denny’s Detroit Tigers ever faced has left us. Our thoughts on the passing of Lou Brock.
The Tigers lost their critical series at Minnesota, but the boys are still impressed by what they’ve seen from many of the youngsters.
College football is BACK! Well, ya know, KIND OF “back.” Is it getting too late for the Big Ten(14!) to try to play?
The NFL WILL play starting Thursday night! Bob wonders how much of a BLM demonstration there might be, on and off the field.
The Lions signed one of the most famous names in football: running back Adrian Peterson. But will it really help this sad-sack franchise?
Eli LOVES his playing but is underwhelmed by his apparent I.Q.! Dustin Johnson vying for (gulp!) $15 million at the PGA Tour Championship.
Part of a wild Labor Day sports weekend: Novak Djokovic DQs himself from the US Open? Kirk Herbstreit weeping on TV?
Those stories, Eli has “This Day in Sports History,” Bob’s got YOUR mailbag segment and much more right here!

Episode 166: DICKIE V is BACK, Baybee: a TRUE “PTP-ah!”

August 13, 2020 01:23:48

Big fella, give us some hope!

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

DICK VITALE joins the boys again for A LOTTA laughs and memories. The REASON he’s back couldn’t be more serious.
As expected, The Big Ten (14!) has canceled its upcoming football season. Perhaps UNexpected? HUGE pushback!
U-M football star, NFL Pro Bowler, Hollywood actor! Now the amazing life of Dwight Hicks takes a different turn.
The Tigers are in playoff contention, or at least WERE before a spate of injuries. Is it time NOW to call up the kids?
Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer has a strange match-up in the White Sox’ lineup. Think Denny versus Bill Freehan!
Astros hitting coach Alex Cintrón suspended twenty games(!) for his role in a big brawl. What did he say that was so BAD?
A SIX-HOUR NHL playoff game with a goalie making HOW MANY saves?! Tampa eventually beat Columbus.
But the NY Rangers had a much bigger win: the Alexis Lafrenière sweepstakes. OUTRAGE in hockey circles follows!
Eli has “This Day in Sports History,” Bob’s got YOUR mailbag — and we’ve got much more right here!

Jim Brandstatter broadcasting for U of M

Episode 163: MISTER MICHIGAN: Brandy himself!

August 3, 2020 01:40:52

A very timely guest!

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

What did Bo know and when did he know it? Just one of MANY topics for us with U-M football voice JIM BRANDSTATTER!
So why would Bo allegedly allow sexual abuse by his own team doctor to go on? Eli’s sources have an explosive theory!
How could Michigan lose a five-star tackle from right under their noses? The kid’s own father wants to know that too.
Seven-inning games?! Eli’s so upset with MLB’s silliness he cries, “START THE DAMN GAME IN THE THIRD INNING THEN!”
And now MLB is one-sixth through its season. Not weird enough? As of Monday the Tigers would be in the playoffs!
Long-time sportscaster Jamie Samuelsen has died at just 48, joining a host of Detroit media members already gone too soon.
Denny’s got figures on the NFL players who’ve opted out of the season. Bob asks again, “didn’t anybody PLAN for this?”
The NBA is back! NHL too! Both leagues started off with showy Black Lives Matter displays. Has BLM gone too far now?
Bob with a bold prediction for Michigan State basketball, which just went through a VERY eventful week.
Those stories, “This Day in Sports,” YOUR mailbag segment and much more coming up right here!

Episode 157: Kenny Holland Looks Back and AHEAD!

July 13, 2020 01:35:47

I live in the business.

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

How the HELL does a guy who oversaw THREE Cup champs become so controversial? We’ll ask guest KEN HOLLAND!
We don’t know what they WILL be yet, but the Washington “Redskins” are no more. Overreaction or about time?
Now if only they had a league to play in! One NFL player rep warns, “We do NOT have a deal.”
The Big 13 + Rutgers won’t play ANY non-conference football games this season. Bob explains why he doesn’t like it.
College basketball? The intra-Michigan WAR is ON between Tom Izzo and Juwan Howard — and it’s fun to see!
WHAT did you say, Eli? S.I. has a transgender swimsuit model?! Three old men try to wrap their heads around THAT!
WHAT did you say, Eli? The degenerates actually bet on — HUH?! And WHERE?!
Former No Filter guest John Smoltz talks big, then bets on HIMSELF. How did it work out for him?
Bob eulogizes one of his boyhood Tigers heroes while Denny tells tales of another great Tiger from Alabama.
Those stories, this day in NO FILTER SPORTS PODCAST history(?!) in YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 154: GREAT boxer. Greater GENTLEMAN!

July 2, 2020 01:42:48

Detroit’s first champion since Joe Louis.

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

Ex-world champ HILMER KENTY joins us to discuss his career, Emanuel Steward, the Kronk, the current state of boxing and more!
A big 50th anniversary this week for Denny AND for Bob who reminisce about the night he came back from his MLB suspension.
And just to set the record straight, Mr. Giacalone, what did you DO to poor Denny to help end his career? Oh? REALLY?!
The Tigers have done WHAT? PARTNERED with a gambling sports book?! Denny: “I was SUSPENDED for doing the same thing!”
Baseball, uh, “spring training” has resumed, but Eli says we STILL don’t know what the season sked looks like.
P.C. Madness: we now learn from The Lunatics that “Honest Abe” apparently WASN’T so “honest.” HIS statue must go too!
Tag! YER it — or maybe yer NOT! Conflicting COVID tests all over now allow one PGA tour player into this week’s Detroit stop.
Ya say it doesn’t matter? Ya say prep superstar Emoni Bates won’t ever actually PLAY for MSU? Bob explains why it DOES matter.
Our Detroit radio affiliate WDFN is gone, suddenly changed to another format. Denny and Bob: sorry to hear it. Eli: SCREW radio!
Mr. Z also has This Day in Sports and a SHOCKING statement about YOUR weekly mailbag segment. It’s all right here!

Episode 152: Ah, the Life of an MLB Reliever!

June 25, 2020 01:32:26

A closer is a really thankless job.

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

Guest TODD JONES pitched for EIGHT MLB teams, the Tigers TWICE! LOVED Detroit; doesn’t miss the pitching part.
So MLB IS coming back? Eli has a LONG list of all the changes that’ll be made. Fed-up Bob: Include ME out!
Denny says a change the TIGERS should make is to put Casey Mize & the other top kid pitchers in the rotation — right away.
The FL’s have a WHAT? A “new” owner? Roger Daltrey would say: “Meet the new boss — same as the old boss!” So would Bob.
As the boys duke it out over COVID-19 again, a “blame game” has now begun in sports: who gave it to whom?
Should you HAVE to wear a mask for protection now? According to ONE U.S. county — only if you’re WHITE!
Playing career over, he had two job offers: vacuum cleaner salesman or entry position in hockey. Ken Holland chose right!
Read all about it! P.C. Posse Pummels PAW PAW! Local legend Charlie Maxwell, MR. Sunday Home Run, has yet to comment.
Those stories, YOUR mailbag and much more — right here!