Chris Ilitch

Episode 157: Kenny Holland Looks Back and AHEAD!

Ken Holland

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 151: “SUDDEN Sam McDowell?” SCARY Sam!

Sam McDowell pitching

Something of a terror on the mound.

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

  • SAM McDOWELL: I worried about killing a batter my entire career. Sam has an amazing life story and he joins the boys!
  • We have a winner from the Belmont Stakes — DENNY! Others say ANYBODY coulda picked Tiz the Law.
  • Eli (GULP!) went OUT to a restaurant Saturday night and almost NO ONE was wearing a mask! He’s still with us — so far.
  • Many athletes have tested positive for COVID-19, not that they’ll have symptoms. Should sports just go away at this point?
  • Controversy over the Confederate flag NOT going away for a while — but a NOOSE hung in the garage of a black NASCAR driver?!
  • Muhammad Ali Jr. says his late father - and Eli’s hero - would not have supported BLM. Eli pooh-poohs him.
  • The Pistons hired - WHO? - Troy Weaver as GM. Bob only wonders why there’s an extra executive ABOVE him.
  • The DH is FINALLY coming to the National League! When you hear Mr. McDowell talk about HIS HITTING, you’ll know why.
  • Two statues of well-known former team owners REMOVED. NYC even removes a statue of Teddy Roosevelt!
  • When the Tigers DO play again, don’t be surprised if THEY remove the statue of TY COBB from Comerica Park.
  • Those stories, YOUR mailbag segment and much more right here!

Episode 130: AL KALINE 1934-2020

Young Al Kaline in uniform

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

‘They’ve got their blankies, their pacifiers and they’re quivering under their beds in fear! NO! Not from COVID-19!

  • Fox Sports Detroit and owner Sinclair Broadcasting are afraid of the BOYS and what they MIGHT ask Dan Petry!
  • No Peaches? No prob. Who better to talk about the death of Al Kaline than great buddy and teammate Denny McLain?
  • Been watching those MLB rebroadcasts of the ’68 Series? WE have too. Denny relives some of it with us.
  • Oh, and the Tigers’ legendary pitching opponent in that long-ago Fall Classic has some good news.
  • So the MLB is secretly planning a May start-up? REALLY? Bob wants to know WHICH “May” that is: 2022?
  • The battle rages on about Noah Syndergaard’s Tommy John. NECESSARY surgery or not? Denny SEEMS to change his tune.
  • So Melo thinks he would have won MULTIPLE NBA titles if the Pistons had drafted him?! Eli’s got some thoughts on THAT. 
  • A big makeover continues for Michigan basketball. Wuzzup with all THIS, Juwan?
  • The newest sports P.C. contro won’t go away. African-Americans ‘n Mississippuh? ALWAYS combustible.
  • No Mailbag last week? OUTRAGEOUS! It was NOT the fault of Eli, on his best behavior for a LONG one today
  • Those stories and much more right here.

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

Black and white stylized photo of Ron LeFlore

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 119: Ex-Tiger Makes Good on HIS “Plan B!”

Detroit Tiger Jon Warden

We welcome him as the professional comedian he is!

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

  • You’re a young MLB pitcher but you hurt your arm and suddenly have to retire! Oh, no! What now?
  • Denny’s ’68 Tigers teammate JON WARDEN became a comedian/banquet speaker and leaves us laughing in the aisles.
  • What a weird basketball season it’s been for U-M and MSU. Now that it’s March, guess which one is peaking at the right time?
  • To make matters worse for Michigan, the Zavier Simpson police report is out — and it’s not pretty.
  • The Palace of Auburn Hills is coming down. Eli waxes sentimental, though DENNY didn’t when Tiger Stadium was razed.
  • Bob rips the “Keystone Cops” of spring training and says it looks like Miggy has lost his reflexes.
  • Denny broke what all-time MLB record? How much does he remember about that? Well, it WAS a long time ago.
  • What in Sam Hill is ol’ Garth doin’ in a Bernie Sanders shirt up there in DEE-troit?! It jes ain’t right!
  • Tony Romo makes his decision: NO to ESPN, YES to CBS — at $17 mill a year! Does that money for an announcer make sense?
  • Plus, Meeting Maria and more in YOUR mailbag segment. It’s all right here.

Episode 118: Haters Hate Mike Eruzione Now? WHY?

You can’t believe the calls I’ve had.

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

  • Team captain MIKE ERUZIONE joins us on the 40th anniversary of “The Miracle on Ice,” on the new MAGA controversy and more! 
  • Trevor Bauer tells HBO “Real Sports” WHAT? MLB pitchers are using PINE TAR on balls? Make Denny and Bob LAUGH!
  • Tigers pitcher Alex Wilson has a bad case of the “Tim Tebow Blues.” The boys scoff at THAT too.
  • The Astros are feeling the heat for their sign-stealing scandal — literally. Pitchers ARE hitting them now, but on purpose?
  • And what Tigers legend was responsible for a different sign-stealing scandal 60 years ago?
  • Eli tells us the comical story of Deontay Wilder and the REAL reason he just lost that big fight (yeah, RIGHT!).
  • The Spartans stage an impressive second-half comeback to beat Iowa as Izzo is chastened by one of his players.
  • A nice gesture by Juwan in hiring one U-M staffer who may be the best Michigan HS player you’ve likely never heard of.
  • Mercy, mercy me! Detroit-Mercy losing ON the court AND off now. But does anybody really care about the Titans anymore?
  • Stevie Y FINALLY lets us all in on The Plan. To celebrate, Denny heads to a HOCKEY GAME(?) with sponsor Luke Nowacki.
  • Eli salutes a great champion in retiring Maria Sharapova, PED scandal and all.
  • Free agency in big-time college sports is coming soon. Bob explains what a wild story THIS is gonna be!
  • And in the Mailbag segment, you DON’T “Knock the Rock. It’s all right here.

Episode 102: Wanna BET, big shot? Then Hear THIS!

Sportsbook sign with people standing under it.

This will transform the gaming industry in Michigan.

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

  • Noted sports gambling attorney, Dan Wallach, is on the show to talk about LEGAL sports gambling for YOU.
  • Another humiliation for Jim Harbaugh in another big game. Is HE the problem with U-M football?
  • Eli and Denny do you a solid by picking the weekend’s NFL playoff winners. Go bet against ’em and clean up!
  • What, was Denny STONED today?! He took one of Eli’s “special” pills and may have just started a, uh, HIPPER life!
  • Coaches come and coaches go. Nevertheless, the FLs’ image took an even further beating after their latest firings.
  • Two major sports deaths this week. The boys discuss the life and times of both David Stern and Don Larson.
  • Is the Tigers’ top pitcher, Matthew Boyd, on his way out of Detroit? SHOULD he be?
  • Bob updates us on that U-D “showdown” at Gonzaga. The Zags finished as 33.5 point favorites! Did you bet it?
  • Meantime, it’s Michigan at Michigan State Sunday as Bob wonders whether Juwan will soon overtake Izzo
  • Those stories, the Wings, Pistons, the Mailbag and much more right here.

 

Episode 99: Ray Scott: I Could NEVER Coach in Today’s NBA!

Ray Scott in Piston's uniform

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

  • The NBA a “BUSH LEAGUE?!” It sure WAS and a man who lived the era, ex-Piston Ray Scott, joins us to talk about it all.
  • Yep, the FL’s lost again, but now FL’s ADDICTS are EXCITED about a high draft pick! Bob sez they’ll just blow it anyway.
  • What is the best football broadcast team YOU’VE ever heard? We’ll tell you about OUR pick.
  • Would Urban Meyer really coach the Cowboys? Simple question/answer? NO, as Eli and Denny gang up on Bob AGAIN! 
  • Denny and Bob even duke it out on baseball’s new computer umpiring. Mr. McLain seems to be singing a new tune.
  • The Tigers have a couple new free-agent signees but the question persists: does Al Avila have a CLUE what he’s doing?
  • Super-agent Scott Boras is now guaranteed a cool $50 million for this past MONTH! His CLIENTS signed for a BILLION!
  • Trouble for Minor League Baseball? There’ll be trouble for ALL if MLB puts more than 40 MiLB teams out of business!
  • If you’re a basketball fan you likely watch the NBA — but millions AREN’T. Would an in-season tourney aid TV ratings?
  • Those stories, the Dead Wings with their “Coach for Life,” YOUR weekly mailbag and much more right here.

Episode 96: Now, Now, Boys! Stop Fighting! Behave Yourselves!

Baseball covered in dollar bills with red stitching

Are you guys coming over to my side in this debate?!

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

  • Strasburg, Cole and Rendon sign deals worth $824,000,000!!! Eli and Denny: SO? Bob: What about the FANS?!
  • Great news! The Toothless Tigers are FINALLY ready to rebuild! So claims Al Avila. Do you trust him? Denny doesn’t.
  • Al also sez the Tigers’ venerable UNIFORMS will look different in 2020? HUH?! HOW?
  • What was that “award” Keith Olbermann used to give? The Worst Person in the World? Do Eli and Denny have a nominee for YOU!
  • Two of MSU’s biggest names clash! Resident BOWLING expert Denny says HE knows which side HE’S on.
  • Whatever happened to ex-Michigan coach Brady Hoke? Bob explains why they WON’T be holding any benefits for him.
  • Michigan basketball? Don’t say Bob didn’t warn you about that Illinois game on the ROAD, while he RIPS the U-D!
  • Meanwhile, John Beilein’s got major problems in Cleveland. Why on EARTH did he leave the U-M?
  • Megan Rapinoe awarded SI’s SportsPERSON of the year, then really pops off at the ceremony! Was she right?
  • Those stories, our weekly mailbag featuring YOUR thoughts and much more right here!

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

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.