Tag: Billy Martin | No Filter Sports

Episode 150: The TWO Comebacks of Ratso!

June 18, 2020 01:28:36

You’re going to do what’s called upon you.

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

Average pitcher. Heart attack at age 27! Then lights-out reliever — ex-Tigers star JOHN HILLER’s got GREAT stories!
Eli says Colin Kaepernick has gone from kryptonite to Man of the Year! NFL owners only wanna know if he can still PLAY.
With no fans allowed, the PGA Colonial had its best TV ratings in 16 years. But were folks THAT interested — or just BORED?
We run down some of the NBA’s RIDICULOUS COVID-19 rules for resuming its season in a bubble.
And if THAT’s not comedy enough for you, Kyrie Irving wants to start his own competing PLAYER-owned league.
MLB players/owners continue to make a mockery of what Denny claims IS “our national pastime.” He gets big pushback on THAT!
And now the two GREEDY sides may at some point institute soccer-like advertising on uniforms?!
The first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown will finally be run Saturday. Denny has a hot tip! Bob: CAVEAT EMPTOR!
Meanwhile, the insanity continues in society. Statues are coming down or vandalized from BOTH political sides.
Long-time MLB hurler Lary Sorensen writes us in YOUR Mailbag about ONE HOFer he used to EAT UP. (Hint: believe it or not, it was our most recent guest!).
Those stories and much more right here!

Episode 149: The GREAT Rod Carew

June 15, 2020 01:35:43

No easy out.

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

Baseball Hall of Famer ROD CAREW joins the boys to talk about his amazing career, amazing new HEART & more!
So Jim Nantz began Saturday’s PGA telecast with a tribute to George Floyd? Bob asks where the Tour’s BEEN all these years!
Is Rob Manfred going to save MLB’s season by FORCING the players and owners to (finally) get started?
The NBA has a plan to come back, but Kyrie Irving says it SHOULDN’T until “Black Lives Matter” is accomplished!
No word from the NHL on its restart as one star coach asks how an NFL comeback’s possible with “social distancing.”
What if Gibby’s World Series homers had been played in EMPTY STADIUMS?! Eli on board with Bob: there MUST be fans!
ESPN’s doc on the steroid-laden 1998 home-run race premieres. Why are McGuire & Bonds welcome in MLB but not Sosa?
Mr. Z always has terrific stories about Allen Iverson who just turned 45. You won’t believe what happens when he turns 55!
What happened 55 YEARS ago? Denny: ROD CAREW broke in? Uh, NO, Denny! He finally got the answer.
Those stories, YOUR Mailbag segment and much more right here!

Episode 145: The Remarkable Life of Trixie!

June 1, 2020 01:39:54

He wore the Tigers uniform fo 28 years…more than anyone in team history.

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

The man who wore a Tigers uni longer than any? DICK TRACEWSKI — also Koufax’s roommate in L.A. — is our guest!
What NOW for MLB? Well, the post-season’s probably gonna be FRIGID! IF they DO play.
Minor League Baseball in a HEAP of trouble but one Florida club has a unique way of making money now anyway!
The NBA and NHL resuming? Eli asks how many even care about sports anymore, especially with all the trouble in the U.S.
COVID-19 talk is everywhere and one of the NHL’s top young star’s career may be in jeopardy due to the pandemic.
No caddies allowed on the LPGA? MLS at war over when and if it can start playing soccer again? Yet the coast MAY be nearly clear.
For instance, Korean MLB could serve as a model for baseball to return. It’s had no outbreaks since resuming play.
LOOK! Denny is now ready for 1967 to begin — JUST in time for 2020 as he asks Eli for advice about (GASP!) marijuana!
Detroiter Brad Keselowski has won his second straight NASCAR race. Denny recalls interviewing him when Brad was THREE!
How do you go through $44 million and wind up broke? Ask baseball’s Esteban Loaiza AND Mike Tyson among others!
Watching the Lance Armstrong doc on ESPN these days? Bob: He’s a lying SOB. NO! Eli to Bob: Aren’t you being a hypocrite?
A silly fan’s suggestion in YOUR Mailbag to (GULP!) get rid of BOB and hire — SERIOUSLY?! Those stories and more right here!

Episode 139: The “Spaceman” — on EVERYTHING!

May 11, 2020 01:32:30

One of the great characters in sports.

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

You wanted to WHAT? BULLDOZE the Rocky Mountains?! It’s the one and only “SPACEMAN,” BILL LEE, on with us today!
What’s going on in sports? Almost NOTHING! But Eli, Denny and Bob still make the proverbial chicken SOUP outta chicken BLEEP.
Sports leagues planning to start again? Rumors abound every day. But HOW — and WHEN?
Human cockfighting had a big weekend anyway, though Eli calls it (and maybe YOU do too) “Ultimate Fighting Championship.”
At 53 (and apparently in need of money), Mike Tyson says he’s thinking about a comeback! How would HE do in UFC?
Whenever baseball announces it’s ready, is it possible ANOTHER issue could keep its doors closed?
MLB has now cut its draft rounds back due to COVID-19, but will that only help the rich (THE YANKEES!) get richer?
Baseball has changed SO much — and maybe not for the better. Denny rants on NOW versus THEN.
Cheating in college basketball? Biz as usual. Coach K even cheating?! Bob: “NEVER!” Eli: “Shut up, you Dukie!”
Those stories, we check in on Denny’s busy, uh, “social life,” YOUR Mailbag and much more right here!

A person's finger touching a button on a screen

Episode 131: SELL! No, BUY! Whither YOUR Dough?

April 13, 2020 1:07:39

I don’t think we’ll ever have an opportunity like this again.

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

Stand by for our big Masters recap! NOT. It WOULD have concluded Sunday but the sports world remains on hold.
Are the NBA and NHL playoffs about to be played soon anyway? Is the start to the MLB season?
Sports-starved Eli and Denny say THEY’LL watch! Bob says he WON’T; not in empty arenas and stadiums.
So what are SOME watching NOW? TV shows for Eli and Denny. H-O-R-S-E with famous basketball players on national TV?!
Seems like Tom Brady and his agents are looking to trademark half of Tampa! Distasteful? Greedy?
Drew Brees has just been recruited again — but not by Purdue. Are TV sports execs crazy? WAIT. Don’t answer that.
RIP Doug Sanders, Glenn Beckert, Colby Cave, Tarvaris Jackson, Tom Webster, Pat Stapleton and Stirling Moss.
MONEY talk — YOUR money! Sponsor Luke Nowacki offers some suggestions on what you might want to do now.
Meanwhile, many of you have graciously offered to donate to our show in the past. We have an announcement to make.
In YOUR mailbag this week: ANGER at “leftist” Eli, other media people POACHING us(?!), an Al Kaline controversy
And it’s all coming up for you right here!

Black and white stylized photo of Ron LeFlore

Episode 123: Our Ron LeFlore Interview? All You THOUGHT It’d Be!

March 16, 2020 1:29:16

I’ll believe it when I hear it…

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

Whaddya know? He DID finally make it on the show! And YOU won’t wanna miss the boys’ chat with RON LeFLORE!.
Life without sports is BORING! Or is it? Eli, Denny and Bob haven’t missed it much — so far.
As the Coronavirus pandemic (PANIC!) reaches new lows we highlight news from the sports world:
The NFL’s CBA has been approved — but do we really need even MORE football?!
Another day, another Tom Brady story. The latest claims Bill Belichick MAY be cutting off his nose to spite his face.
Rick Pitino is the new head coach WHERE?! IONA?! Bob explains what that is and WHY Pitino probably did this.
Ex-Tiger Ruppert Jones and many others want to know what we’ll be talking about with no sports going on.
Well, Rupe, when the going gets tough, the tough …! Eli and Denny have the, uh, latest from women’s soccer and gymnastics.
As always, we hear from our listeners in YOUR mailbag segment.
Oh, and what else was it that we wanted to mention? Hmmm … oh, yeah! Happy 70th birthday to Eli Zaret!
Those stories and much more right here.

Episode 95: DIRECT from Hamtramck AND MLB — It’s “WIMPY!”

December 9, 2019 01:40:47

You never lose a nickname!

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

FUNNY guy, GREAT personality! Tom Paciorek shoulda been a media star after his MLB career! Wait. He WAS! And he’s our GUEST!
A special thanks from Denny to YOU and to so many others for the condolences pouring in over Sharon’s passing.
Sweet Lou failed again with HOF Vets Committee voters. An injustice? Did his personality cost him?
Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller DID get in but Bob attacks Miller for MLB’s money INSANITY. Eli and Denny attack Bob BACK!
And those two big bullies ALSO air it out with poor Bob on Ken Harrelson, who MAY be about to go in!
The boys are NOT getting along! Eli gets BIG pushback from Bob: won’t he PLEASE stop talking so much about the FL’s?!
And Mr. Z recaps, uh, some kind of heavyweight title fight this weekend. Quick now! Name ANY current champ you can!
It’s U-M (gulp!) vs Alabama in ONE bowl game and MSU (gulp!) vs Wake Forest and its hi-powered offense in another.
Eli takes us on a (comical) tour of some of the VERY BIG bowl games on the slate for lucky US.
PLUS, a WOMAN head coach in the NBA(?!), M and MSU basketball, YOUR comments in the mailbag and more right here!

Episode 87: A Stroll Down Memory Lane with Alan Trammell!

November 7, 2019 01:40:06

Father time is undefeated.

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

New HOF member Alan Trammell does a GREAT job with the boys! His life in baseball, the ’84 Tigers, Magnum P.I.: It’s all here, folks.
The latest HOF candidates and state of the HOF? A wild melee suddenly breaks out with Eli and Denny dumping on Bob — who dumps right back!
Computer umpiring in MLB was also part of that. Denny sticks to his guns — just as he surely would have about horseless carriages in 1906.
Is there ANYTHING interesting about the FL’s vs da Bears? YES! For whom will Denny root Sunday? “We” or his own hometown team?
Michigan’s off Saturday but the focus does NOT turn to Michigan State. Even Spartan fans may bail on MSU-Illinois. Alabama v LSU is at the same time!
Bob strolls over to Madison Square Garden two nights in a row and isn’t happy with what he sees: MSU goes down and the Wings ARE down — horribly.
U-M basketball? ANOTHER near nightmare in Ann Arbor against those big meanies from Appalachian State! Juwan’s got a lot to learn.
You’ll hear about Denny’s fascinating old side gig on our mailbag segment AND about an UNUSUAL biz plan he and Jim Northrup once concocted!
Eli answers Bob’s bemused question: “What the HELL does a chicken sandwich have to do with SPORTS?!”
Those stories and much more right here!

Episode 81: ’84 Tigers Hero to — Stand-Up? DON’T Miss this Interview with Ruppert Jones!

October 17, 2019 01:42:16

“I don’t want to get out of my lane.”

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

A hero of the ’84 World Series champs, Ruppert joins us to discuss that magical year, why he didn’t come back, his personal struggles and more.
Oh, so you say the FL’s were “robbed” by the officials at Green Bay? Eli’s pissed too, Denny disagrees and, as usual, “The Bob Page Lions’ Lament” sez …
It’s the NEW “biggest game of Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career” Saturday night at Penn State. Is it really make-or-break time for him?
We only know one thing about the MLB Playoffs: the Nats are going to the World Series. And who called that one? He’s NOT too modest to say!
“Fired up?” Denny ‘s APOPLECTIC! He’s almost frothing at the mouth about juiced (or DE-juiced) baseballs — as Eli sadistically presses his buttons.
Basketball’s Jim Calhoun has done something so reprehensible Bob’s shocked that he’s not in jail already!
Are you getting your money’s worth at an NBA game? A new study implies NOT and Eli confirms — while Denny just DOESN’T get it.
LeBron’s controversy is the latest story to remind us that politics and sports, like it or not, are inextricably bound.
Those stories, Eli walked out of the arena and missed WHAT? Reggie Jackson ALMOST redeems himself with Denny plus much more!
And don’t forget: Mike Lucci, named to the All-Time Lions team, will join us on Monday’s show.

Episode 80: Ty Cobb to Denny and HIS generation: You Guys Suck!

October 14, 2019 01:25:13

These Kids Don’t Know How To Play The Game

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

Oh, the homers, the strikeouts, etc. in the MLB playoffs! Denny: It’s a different game. Bob: And blah, blah, blah.
And the baseballs themselves! “Wouldn’t It be NIce?” if everyone would just stop bitchin’ cuz “It’s Kind of a Drag.”
Denny finally goes to school on a future Hall of Famer — just one of the MANY baseball topics we’ve got for you.
Matt Stafford is on the cusp of breaking MORE records as the FL’s go to play — Bob’s favorite team?
No matter any one result, Eli’s also had enough of the FL’s and harkens back to the glorious 50’s — all we have left!
The new “biggest game of Harbaugh’s Michigan career” looms at Happy Valley this Saturday.
While Michigan State MAY be playing — WHEN they play –the FINAL games of Mark Dantonio’s career.
Bo and his presidency of the Tigers: the boys have plenty of stories on that — none that would make Bo proud!
Eli’s been TRYING to tell us so: a younger Steve Yzerman really WAS a big pain in the, uh — butt!
Those stories — the Wings desperate already?– and much more coming up right here.