Jack Nicklaus

Episode 192: SO Close at Augusta — Yet SO FAR!

Dan Pohl golfing

Not to be!

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

  • It’s Masters week — in NOVEMBER! Ah, 2020. But we’ve got a GREAT guest to talk about it: Michigan’s own DAN POHL.
  • Was Danny the best golfer the state ever produced? With The Mitten’s weather, the list sure ain’t long but we’ll take a look.
  • Ohio State’s Urban Meyer as head coach of (gulp!) The University of MICHIGAN? Get outta here!
  • The 0-9 laughing stock New York Jets in the playoffs? Get outta here! The LIONS could still make it too.
  • Old pals Lary and Bob have a BIG, uh, “discussion” about MONEY in baseball.
  • J.T. Realmuto, George Springer and DJ LeMahieu have all REJECTED $18.9 million for 2021. Could any land in Detroit?
  • Chris Fetter HAS landed in Detroit as Tigers’ pitching coach. It’s Lary against his boyhood idol, Denny McLain, on THAT one. 
  • Could a student be admitted to the University of Michigan, let alone survive academically, without PERFECT English fluency?
  • That issue is part of a red-hot battle that may soon turn U-M vs MSU basketball into the NEW Duke-Carolina.
  • And a horrible tragedy in the sports world leads us to reexamine one of the wildest college bowl games ever played.
  • We’ve got those stories, YOUR mailbag and much for you — right here!

Episode 191: DOWN from “Mt. Rushmore” and ONTO Our Show!

Mike (Doc) Emrick

Congratulations on a career well lived.

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

  • The greatest hockey announcer EVER? Many say that about the personable MIKE “DOC” EMERICK, our guest today!
  • But who’s interviewin’ whom? Michigan resident Doc has plenty of questions for Denny about the ’68 Tigers.
  • Eli’s U-M sources report that it’s all over for Jim Harbaugh. The proverbial “mutual decision” to come at year’s end.
  • After the humiliation at Iowa, Bob asks why, among hundreds of coaches, MSU was so bent on hiring Mel Tucker.
  • State won’t get any help this week against Indiana — at least not from Eli, who’s jumpin’ on the Hoosier bandwagon!
  • How much will new manager A.J. Hinch mean to the Tigers — and what about his coaching hires of the weekend?
  • The Lions go belly-up again. Let the LATEST five-year rebuilding program begin! But with (gulp!) Sheila Hamp Ford guiding it?
  • The Masters in NOVEMBER? It starts this week! Eli and Denny guarantee the biggest current name in golf will NOT win.
  • And a Red Wings favorite says a classy good-bye with a thank-you note to Detroit and his home state.
  • Those stories, Eli has his “This Day in Sports History,” Bob has YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 168: Tom Izzo: Coach of the PISTONS?!

Frank Izzo

I think he regrets not taking that job.

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

  • Eli’s on vacation so veteran sportscaster FRED HEUMANN joins us with some big opinions and stories!
  • Casey Mize makes his LONG-awaited MLB debut! MOST of us thought he did well. NOT Denny!
  • Al Avila says on a Friday that Mize and the other kids are NOT ready. By MONDAY they ARE?! Bob thinks he knows why.
  • Thom Brennaman commits the ultimate TV/radio sin: not so much WHAT he said, it’s the cardinal rule he FORGOT!
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a grand slam on a 3-0 count with his team up by SEVEN in the 8th inning — and the feces hits the fan!
  • The NFL is now considering a postseason “bubble” which has worked for the NBA and NHL.
  • Most of COLLEGE football is not going to play at all. Players, parents and one prominent medical expert are VERY unhappy.
  • A potentially GREAT Michigan O-lineman has already seen enough. HE’S heading to the pros!
  • One of the legal world’s greatest truisms: how much “justice” can you afford? In Robert Kraft’s case, a LOT!
  • Those stories, “This Day in Sports” — just for Denny McLain, YOUR mailbag and much more right here.

Episode 149: The GREAT Rod Carew

Rod Carew at bat

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 148: How on EARTH Did Polo Do It?!

Dennis Polonich playing hockey for Detroit Red Wings

He had a huge heart.

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

  • Was he, pound for pound, the best fighter in NHL history? Ex-Red Wings fan fave DENNIS POLONICH joins the boys!
  • Eli fesses up: as a New Yawk guy, he LIKES hockey but just didn’t grow up with it. He likes most hockey players even more. 
  • The Tigers take slugger Spencer Torkelson #1 overall in the MLB draft. Bob cautions about getting TOO geeked.
  • Commissioner Rob Manfred: baseball WILL be back in 2020. Where he got THAT info, who knows? But Denny agrees.
  • NBA players are beginning to balk about resuming their season in Orlando with no family, no friends allowed to visit.
  • NASCAR has made the decision to ban Confederate flags at race events. But how will they enforce it?!
  • Allen Iverson just turned 45 this week and you can always count on Eli for some GREAT stories about A.I.
  • The PGA Tour is BACK! No fans, of course — and already some of golf’s biggest names are complaining about that.
  • Those stories, YOUR weekly Mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 97: Will Jeff Bezos Buy the Lions?!

Jeff Bezos

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

  • Will Jeff Bezos buy the Lions?! https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/rumor-jeff-bezos-has-visited-detroit-twice-to-talk-about-buying-lions/Bob tells why that might NOT happen.
  • He’s the proud owner of a USFL championship ring AND played in TWO Super Bowls: Ray Bentley is with us today!
  • Ray’s Michigan Panthers lead into old USFL stories and the VERY famous owner not ALLOWED to buy an NFL team.
  • Other NFL stories? Is the “R word” now a firing offense? And what’s wrong with “white women?!”
  • One NFL NON-story? The FL’s lose their seventh straight. But why count — other than the days til Matt’s gone?
  • Oregon conquers Ann Arbor and Bob didn’t like what he saw in Saturday’s game, particularly from Juwan. 
  • Is ONE reason MSU has been so disappointing the personal tragedy of its star player?
  • The Army-Navy game under fire for a televised “white supremacy” sign from two cadets. Or WAS it that?
  • LSU QB Joe Burrow has won the Heisman, a trophy Eli disdains. He’ll tell you why.
  • He also RAVAGES what USED to be Sports Illustrated. Those stories, YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 94: The Red Baron Himself Reminisces!

Red Berenson in Red Wings uniform

Life is good!

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

  • A somber note to start this show: Denny is not with us due to the death of his beloved wife Sharon.
  • Eli recounts in moving detail their long-time — and up-and-down — love story.
  • But the great Red Berenson IS with us on so MANY historic hockey moments he was part of, the Wings, U-M and MORE!
  • U-M and MSU basketball BOTH utterly HUMILIATED Tuesday night! But Bob says the two losses were VERY different.
  • Does Michigan football really want to (GULP) play ALABAMA in a bowl game?! Ohio State redux?
  • Could another new twist on MSU’s Larry Nassar disaster leave MSU declaring BANKRUPTCY?! 
  • He said, HE said? Bob’s interaction with powerful MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson has created some waves!
  • NFL coaches are on the hot seat — but not Matt Patricia? Eli has lowlights of the early years of many FL’s coaches.
  • Babs SMEARED for mistreatment of ex-players like Johan Franzen, but wouldn’t the Wings STILL be better off with him NOW?
  • PLUS, whither the Pistons? Rudy T once WOWED Eli but ATTACKED Bob(!), YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 65: God Bless America, Rudy! How on EARTH Did You Do It?!

Ok, he had perseverance and all that stuff…

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

  • Eli RIPS Rudy Ruettiger (nicely) as the former Notre Dame walk-on joins us to to talk — what else? — Hollywood and ND Football.
  • Bad enough that JV somehow LOST to the Toothless Tigers, worse that he embarrassed himself afterwards.
  • They’re at it again! Ex-MLB stars with the same old, “Why, in MY day …” The MOST outspoken one will surprise you!
  • Uh, Denny, how did you give up so damn many home runs?!
  • Eli defends his use, and his many mentions here, of (gasp!) marijuana.
  • Bob asks what the hell WARP, +ERA, fWAR, rWAR, & DRA- are? He does NOT get an answer.
  • Eli asks whether NFL wideouts like AB, OBJ and many others are just naturally NUTS.
  • Those stories, more baseball and — HOW much to renovate a HOUSE? — right here! 

Episode 41: Quick Now! Name a GOOD Tigers Player! Just ONE.

Illustration of a faceless Detroit Tiger holding a baseball bat over his shoulder

There Are None.

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

  • The NBA Finals are upon us! “Can YOU spell ‘sweep?'”
  • In fact, the bigger story seems to be whither Kawhi and KD?
  • So, these two guys are takin’ a leak in a men’s room and … Nope, not a joke! The Blues even the NHL Finals!
  • Golf’s Hank Haney “hoist with his own petard” by the P.C. Posse — and wimps out. 
  • Near tragedy in Houston but the boys wonder what more MLB can do?
  • What more can the Terrible Tigers do? How about at least hustling? 
  • And, finally! Bob and Denny uncover a “sport” that Eli was actually good at!
  • Those stories and much more right here!

Episode 38: Enough Nonsense! It’s About Jack and Tiger. Period.

Koepka is the only one besides Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods to have one four majors in a two-year span.

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

  • Brooks Koepka — the NEW Tiger!!! “Bull-bleep he is,” say the boys!
  • By week’s end Michigan could have its new basketball coach. Fab-Fiver Jimmy King joins us with his thoughts.
  • Denny wonders, if the Tigers now have a “quality control coach,” then where the hell is the “quality?!”
  • Are the boys Democrats, Republicans or something else? YOU’LL never know — though a couple miffed listeners think THEY do.
  • Too good for the Clips, Rockets, Blazers — too good for anybody, especially thanks to Draymond. Kevin Durant who?
  • The NHL playoffs? As usual, Eli and Denny plead ignorance while Bob wants Larkin and Mantha home for the Worlds — NOW.
  • Those stories, the death of boxing and much more right here!