Jim Brandstatter

Episode 186: A Man FINALLY at Peace

Spencer Haywood in Pistons uniform holding a basketball

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

Basketball legend SPENCER HAYWOOD reveals his near suicide to the boys, just part of his amazing life and times!

  • But first ELI reveals how Spencer blew a real chance at the proverbial “deal too good to be true.”
  • After its bastardized regular season, why not a bastardized World Series for MLB as well?
  • The boys break down the umpiring fiascos, the pitching fiascos, the bizarre atmosphere and … and …
  • “Dead men tell no tales.” A big report in the Detroit News claims Don Canham was a major culprit in the U-M sex scandal.
  • At last! Michigan and Michigan State are back on the football field Saturday. Are these must-wins ALREADY?
  • Is a Big Ten(14) basketball coach the latest victim of the P.C. Posse — or did his university just want him out?
  • Bob wonders if a Damn Yankee from Detroit isn’t being unfairly tarred and feathered across Dixie?
  • Meanwhile, the Lions travel to the HEART of Dixie Sunday in a desperate attempt to save their season AND Patricia’s job.
  • We’ve got “This Day in Sports History,” a mailbag full of YOUR (sexist?!) comments — 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 167: SO Many Good Questions for RICH STRENGER!

Rich Strenger

You’re not going to get me to say anything negative about Bo.

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

  • U-M star, NFL vet AND an attorney? What better person to ask about EVERYTHING going on than RICH STRENGER!
  • How TERRIBLE are the Tigers? NOT so terrible that they can’t easily make the playoffs, especially WITH Casey Mize.
  • Covid-19 in MLB? The Cardinals are FINALLY playing again — WITH a convoy of 41 rental cars on the roads!  
  • The NBA Playoffs start(ed) Monday night. NO COVID issues there so far. Eli gives kudos to Adam Silver for that.
  • College football already slammed by COVID. The Big (14) won’t play — unless players and parents have THEIR way. 
  • Tuukka Rask of the Bruins has called it quits DURING the 2020 NHL playoffs! Bob says he quit on his TEAMMATES.
  • Kelly Stafford walks back her criticism of Colin Kaepernick. Eli and Denny laud her. Bob: Who cares what SHE thinks?
  • A BIG 80% of Packers ticket holders say they will NOT go to Lambeau this year! Eli and Denny: Would YOU go to a game?
  • Another week, ANOTHER Denny McLain scheme. Wait til you hear what he’s going to do now — AND with WHOM!
  • Eli has “This Day in Sports History,” Bob has YOUR mailbag — and MUCH more right here!

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

Dick Vitale

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!

Episode 164: The Amazing Baseball Odyssey of Jim Essian

Jim Essian wearing A's hat

Crisscrossing America for 17 years!

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

  • Just say “no” — to BO?! To ARA? To DUFFY?! How one of Detroit’s greatest all-around athletes, JIM ESSIAN, did it! 
  • The PGA Championship is underway! With NO fans —  AND with Eli asking a good question about two top stars.
  • While MLB is a mess, the NHL and NBA “bubbles” seem to be working. But hockey and basketball in AUGUST?  
  • And Bob sez, “C’mon, how much does ‘Black Lives Matter’ REALLY mean in the NHL?”
  • Imagine! College football players to coaches: “Here’s a list of demands or we’re not playin’!” THIS is happening NOW.
  • Why this CRAZY Big Ten schedule!? M v OSU in OCTOBER? Producers Brandon McAfee and Marc Fellhauer think THEY know. 
  • Kelly Stafford is furious at the NFL for Matt’s false-positive COVID test. Have OTHER testing mistakes been made?
  • Is our P.C. society SO nuts that a coach can’t even QUOTE someone dropping an “N-Bomb?” Black players USE it!
  • We MUST support local journalism in our free country. But Bob wonders how much we’re willing to PAY to do so.
  • Those stories, “This Day in Sports,” a tribute to Denny in YOUR Mailbag — and much more right here!

Episode 163: MISTER MICHIGAN: Brandy himself!

Jim Brandstatter broadcasting for U of M

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 134: The Controversial Life of an NBA SUPERSTAR!

Vintage photo of Rick Barry

The first star player to defy the reserve clause and jump to the ABA.

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

  • “The baddest white boy EVER on a basketball court?!” That might just be RICK BARRY, our guest on the show today!
  • The NFL draft starts/started Thursday. WE have to wait til Monday to comment. The NFL has to wait til ??? to actually PLAY.
  • Do brains matter in sports? Some of the top college prospects score, uh, “stupidly” low on their Wonderlic tests.
  • Gronk is back, joining Brady with the Bucs! Hopefully HE won’t be booted from any Tampa-area parks — as Tom was.
  • U-M’s president says it’s headed for BIG financial trouble over COVID-19? Just wait til the sex-abuse suits are decided!
  • It’s Eli vs Denny for high school football star Rocco Spindler. Will he pick Eli’s alma mater or Denny’s beloved Fighting Irish?
  • The latest on the NHL resuming: Bob says “Pipsqueak Bettman” is now just throwing stuff on the wall to see if anything sticks.
  • (GASP!) Did Denny just physically threaten Bob in YOUR mailbag segment?! 
  • Wearing a Coronavirus mask these days? If so, we’ll tell you how to look sharp in it!
  • Those stories, news of other big-name guests coming up on the show and much more — right here.

Episode 78: Unhappy Michigan Football Fans: HARLAN HUCKLEBY is One of You!

Harlan Huckleby

We Don’t Seem To Have The Dominance Up Front

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

  • Michigan and Iowa waged one HELLUVA defense battle Saturday. Boring? Eli says YES! Bob says NO! 
  • Ex-Michigan star Harlan Huckleby has PLENTY to say on Michigan AND about Jim Harbaugh. His comments will surprise you!
  • Bob repeats HIS comments from MSU’s too-narrow win over Indiana: Lewerke is overrated and so is State’s defense.
  • The MLB Playoffs are heatin’ up and Denny’s NOT thrilled over what he’s hearing on radio and TV from “Jessica Somebody.
  • Meanwhile, he made another of his sports-show appearances last weekend and lassoed PETE ROSE. Pete joins us Thursday!
  • Penalty flags AGAIN are flying all over the field in college and pro football. Can you imagine if this stupidity happened in baseball?
  • WOW! Anthony Mantha with FIVE goals in the Wings’ first two games, FOUR of ’em Sunday night! 
  • As legal sports gambling is exploding all over the nation could we someday have another Black Sox-like scandal?
  • And will Michigan beat Kansas on high school basketball phenom Isaiah Todd? Bob guarantees it — cuz the Jayhawks are in BIG trouble.
  • Those stories, YOUR thoughts in our mailbag segment and much more right here.

Episode 62: “Student-Athlete!” And He’s Being Punished for It?!

How can you punish scholarship???

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

  • (GULP!) $30,000,000 a year — and it’s (GULP!) not enough dough?! 
  • Eli seems fascinated by the new season of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” Bob is decidedly not.
  • After just one pre-season game the NFL’s list of seriously injured players is already high. 
  • Plus, helmet controversy, replay on pass interference — and will YOU be able to legally gamble on football soon? 
  • Even small local newspapers are ganging up on the Toothless Tigers now!
  • And how’s this for a switch? A great prep football player ruled ineligible because he STUDIES too much?! 
  • Those stories, the boys with some more of those old baseball stories for you and much more right here!

Episode 40: The Zen of Bill Buckner: Different Strokes for TWO Different Folks

This is a Oct. 25, 1986, black and white photo of Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner during the 1986 World Series vs. the New York Mets.

A career comes down to one play.

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

  • Buckner’s untimely demise hits home with Eli, who waxes poetic on what Bill’s life was really all about. 
  • Meanwhile, Denny GOT waxed gambling on “The Buckner Game” in prison. He lost WHAT?!
  • The sports world has also lost Bart Starr, unleashing a wave of nostalgia from the boys.
  • The Tigers say they’ve “bolstered” their bullpen — but lotsa seats are empty in Comerica. Is it Casey Mize time?
  • MSU lands a new president AND a hot-shot player for Izzo.
  • Uh, and btw, where’s Juwan been lately?
  • Bob rants on the bogus “Michigan Sports Hall of Fame” and on creeping “hip-hopism” in sports.
  • Those stories, controversy over the upcoming Detroit Grand Prix and much more right here!