Lou Anna Simon

Episode 143: Drew Stanton’s LONG & WINDING Road

Drew Stanton in MSU uniform preparing a throw.

Things fell into place.

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

A GREAT career as an NFL quarterback wasted as a back-up? Don’t tell that to MSU’s DREW STANTON, our guest!  
  • Today we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for OUR freedoms as we observe Memorial Day.  
  • It’s a special day for another reason: Eli remembers the Ali/Sonny Liston rematch on its 55th anniversary!
  • Bob reminds SOME people (not naming any names from THIS show!) who Brad Keselowski IS and why he matters.
  • Did you like the Tiger/Phil/Brady/Peyton golf outing? Didn’t even bother to watch? No worries. Eli and Denny DID.
  • Philip Rivers has a new job waiting for him: HIGH SCHOOL head coach in Alabama. He should NOT ask Mike Singletary for advice!
  • Prez Mark Schlissel’s not worried about no fans at U-M games. He won’t ALLOW football if no students are on campus!
  • As the NBA plots restarting in Orlando, we pay tribute to the great Jerry Sloan who died this weekend, as did Eddie Sutton.
  • How bad is it for the Wings? They’re officially among the “Stigmatized Seven,” awful clubs that won’t be part of summer playoffs.
  • Racism in hockey? It’s been an issue for a long time and now another black ex-player has come forward with HIS tales of abuse.
  • Those stories, Eli bitching all through our Mailbag segment while YOU enjoy it — and much more right here!

Episode 142: BROOKIE’S Got a LOT to Say!

Tom Brookens

One of the great guys in baseball.

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

  • Small-town boy goes to Chicago — and steps right into Disco Demolition Night! Welcome to MLB, guest TOM BROOKENS! 
  • Eli jumps all over ESPN for televising Korean baseball and — huh? A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT?!
  • “Now tell me to what room I go to get my reputation back!” The lawsuit against MSU’s Mark Dantonio & others DISMISSED!
  • There’s news out this week on college football recruiting. Michigan fans won’t like it either.  
  • Mike Trout’s rookie card just sold for $900,000! Denny says baseball cards are BACK — they MUST be!   
  • Eli and Denny tell stories of Mantle and Pepitone and why it’s JOE’S pic hanging in The Denny Den, NOT Mickey’s.
  • IF the NFL plays this season, one equipment manufacturer thinks it has a great idea for player safety.
  • Meanwhile, an NFL player is suing over sexual assault. What could a WOMAN have DONE to the macho man?
  • Sad news for we of the Baby Boom Generation? Eli: YES! Bob: NO! EDDIE HASKELL was a two-faced jerk!
  • •Those stories, Eli and Denny KILL the weekend Tiger/Phil foursome, YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 140: The Greatest Legend in MLB HISTORY?!

Jim Abbott

The No-Hitter in Yankee Stadium was really special.

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

  • How did JIM ABBOTT do it?! Born without a right hand - yet became a star pitcher at U-M AND in MLB?! Jim joins the boys!
  • Sports are slowly coming back — but maybe not MLB. WAAYYY too many money issues, as we’ve reported previously.
  • So that begs the question: do people NEED sports or do MORE people HATE sports? Eli has some passionate thoughts on that.
  • But there’s plenty to do and watch without sports — as Denny found out during an impromptu stroll down Memory Lane!  
  • What about the NFL? Bob details a LOT of issues that may keep IT from opening too. No more TAILGATING?!
  • Not guilty! A judge has dismissed the charges from the Nassar Nightmare against former MSU President Lou Anna Simon.
  • Meanwhile, there’s surprising news about former Spartan star linebacker, the late Mike Labinjo.
  • Ohio State and Michigan SCARED of a football rival? MSU, Penn St and Wisconsin too? Not YET, at least, but maybe soon?
  • Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland (mercifully?) blown out of the Monday Night Football broadcast booth. NOW what?
  • Our producer Brand McAfee makes a SHOCKING confession about his childhood — and STILL can’t let go of it! 
  • YOUR Mailbag may now have a theme song! You, uh, might NOT want to hear it as warbled by DENNY McLAIN, though. 
  • Those stories and much more right here!

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

Alan Trammell at bat

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 86: Bobby Hull: It Was the Biggest Disappointment of My Life

Bobby Hull in Blackhawks uniform

Something happened that those of us who saw it will never, ever forget.

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

  • The Golden Jet himself, Bobby Hull, joins the boys to discuss his amazing life in hockey, rivalries with Howe and other all-time greats and much MORE!
  • If it’s Monday it must be time for “Bob Page’s Lions Lament!” Bob sez, “Ya know, the FL’s coulda won that game at Oakland and they SHOULDA … and they WOULDA …!”
  • Now that woeful Maryland’s been disposed of, the FUN starts for Michigan: Michigan State and Ohio State are in clear view up the road.
  • NO fun for MSU these days, though. What ELSE can go wrong, you ask? Spartan fans already KNOW the answer.
  • So, from now on it’s all about Michigan State BASKETBALL as the top-ranked team in America readies for #2 Kentucky!
  • Does Tom Izzo’s 5-8 son Steven (1.5 points per game in high school) really deserve a spot on the Spartans’ roster? Eli and Denny say “NO!”.
  • Stephen Strasburg decides to opt out of his contract with a World Championship team — to make even HUGER bucks.
  • “What does a guy have to do to get fired around here?!” Will Red Wings’ coach Jeff Blashill soon learn the painful answer?
  • The Pistons are holding their own — thanks to the great play of Andre Drummond. But what happens when he LEAVES after this season?
  • Those stories, RIP Al Bianchi, we feature YOU on our weekly mailbag and look ahead at our next show with Tiger great Alan Trammell — right here!

Episode 85: Mr. McLain, Do You GAMBLE on Baseball?!

I had a great night with that home run!

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

  • So, does Denny still have such little respect for “Mercenary Max” Scherzer NOW? 
  • The boys wrap up the World Series and pull no punches about the umpiring and managing we saw.
  • And to think that Denny picked the Nats to win it all! Rest assured, he’s NOT too shy to mention that — or his BETS!
  • The FL’s go to Oakland to face the Raiders with a ONE-GAME win streak! Exciting! But Bob sez fans know what usually comes next.
  • Michigan and Michigan State have byes this Saturday. Well, the Wolverines, ya know, TECHNICALLY …
  • Meanwhile, the broken record keeps skipping: still MORE trouble for MSU off the field.
  • Ypsilanti, Michigan high school hoops superstar Emoni Bates has landed on the COVER of S.I. — at age 15! Too much, too soon?
  • Eli strikes out on the meaning of “load management” in sports. Oh, you too? You likely won’t be happy to learn what it is.
  • Boo-Hoo! The Pistons are under .500 cuz they have injuries. So how have the Raptors flown out of the gate without Kawhi?
  • Plus Gary McCord surprised, unhappy by his firing at CBS, we hear from YOU in our weekly mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 61: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is?” Best NOT if You Own a Pro Sports Team!

Stephen Ross holding a football

Why would he do something that’s going to piss off half the nation?!

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

  • This is opening week in the NFL pre-season and Eli asks if the FL’s can become another “worst-to-first” team. Bob answers: “NO!”
  • One of the greatest Lions in history will be in Canton soon — at least if ONE New England Patriots player has anything to say about it.
  • Dolphins owner and Michigan alum Stephen Ross is in hot water for supporting Trump’s re-election campaign.
  • M grad Eli strikes back at a Wolverines fan who accuses him of giving Jim Harbaugh a free ride!
  • Meanwhile, Bob details the latest humiliations for HIS alma mater, Michigan State.
  • The Terrible Tigers on their way to one of the worst records in history — but Denny’s got a plan for filling the seats anyway.
  • Oh, and thank YOU for making our show with John Salley our most listened to EVER! Now, whom would YOU like us to interview? 
  • Those stories and much more coming up right here!