Rich Take On Sports

The daughter of a high school football coach growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Victoria Carmen has only known that sports and family are synonymous which is one of the reasons she wanted to pursue a career in sports.Her journey as a sports reporter and anchor has taken her to Wyoming, Ohio, Florida, upstate NY and now she continues that journey in Greenville, SC as the news anchor for Fox Carolina News where sports continues to be one of her loves.

Live moves so fast that most of us only focus on what's next but once Roy Philpott truly understood the importance of being great where you are in life he began to see how this would guide him on his path to follow his passion becoming a play-by-play broadcaster.Now he's living that dream as an ESPN play-by-play broadcaster and you can even find him on SiriusXM as a sports talk radio host as well.

ESPN Senior Writer Andrea Adelson has been able to flourish in a male-dominated industry because of her belief that strength is power and the importance of setting goals which include even having incremental goals.After telling her dad as a kid that she wanted to be a sports writer, Andrea would attend the University of Florida before she would embark on her career with various stops ultimately landing with ESPN where you can find her covering colleges sports with an ACC emphasis.

Sports talk radio host and play-by-by broadcaster William Qualkinbush understands that in life there will be times that we must choose a side but he also believes that sometimes the answer to which side you choose can simply be yes.Currently, you can find him co-hosting "Out of Bounds" from 12-3 PM each weekday with Kelly Gramlich heard on 105.5 & 97.5 The Roar while he also serves as the radio play-by-play voice for Clemson baseball and women’s basketball.

Jonathan Gantt has experienced the power of paying it forward throughout his life from his mentors which is why it's so meaningful for him to do the same in his Associate AD/Creative Solutions role at Clemson University where he's been helping lead the digital transformation for Clemson Athletics beginning in 2013. His team’s work has helped the Tigers earn recognition from Forbes, Sports Business Journal, Sports Illustrated, and others.He would begin understanding the power of social media and digital content while working for Ripken Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays in media relations roles before helping Clemson Athletics become a nationally recognized leader in social and digital content.To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Jonathan Gannt on Twitter: @Jonathan_GanttPhoto Credit: Jonathan Gantt

"What drives you?" is a question that Jason Donnelly not only has asked himself but also uses this question to help understand what motivates others throughout his basketball coaching career in high school and college where he served as an integral part of the 2 National Championships in 2016 and 2018 for Villanova University and Hall of Fame Coach Jay Wright.Since 2019, Jason has served as the Director of Athletics for Furman University in Greenville, SC where he continues to focus on the Optimist Creed while striving to inspire, educate and develop outstanding student-athletes through a culture of excellence, prestigious liberal arts, and sciences education, and nationally competitive athletics programs.To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Jason Donnelly on Twitter: @JDFurmanPaladinPhoto Credit: Furman University Athletics

Show Notes:Bryton had the unique experience of being at Clemson pre-pandemic and then during the pandemicHad dreams of playing in the NFL but he never let it consume him and does regret not enrolling at IMG Academy because he thinks about what could have been at timesKnew after the third time when he tore his ACL in the same knee that he would no longer pursue playing the game that he lovedThe decision to stop playing was based on his understanding of the importance of having a long-term vision mindset and thinking about 40-year decisions instead of the here and nowNever had a true relationship with his biological father and it does matter but his mom raised him by herself and they are truly best friendsTo Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Bryton Constantin on Instagram: @brytonconstantinTo Follow Bryton Constantin on Twitter: @Kxng_BrytonFeatured Image Photo Credit: Bryton Constantin

Show Notes:Some days it doesn't seem real that Marcus opened a HIIT studio and even more amazed at watching the growthMost of the time it doesn't even feel like work and communication has been the key for him and co-founder Ben BoulwareGrew up in a sports family with his dad playing football at Clemson and he always looked up to his older sisterWhile he might not have lived out his dream of playing in the NFL, he still experienced success by playing college football at Newberry CollegeMarcus believes that success can be measured and defined in many waysDoing what you enjoy will ultimately lead to success in lifeTo Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Marcus Brown on Instagram: @marcusbrown8To Follow The Junkyard on Instagram: @thejunkyardfitnessTo Follow The Junkyard on Facebook: @thejunkyardfitnessTo Learn more information about The Junkyard: The JunkyardFeatured Image Photo Credit: Marcus Brown

Show Notes:Sports allowed Sarah to find her place and fit in even at an early ageHer family was always active in sports by playing various sports but her parents were never considered sportspeopleIt was a magical time living in Chicago during the Jordan years and she basically cried the first time she got to meet Michael JordanShe never really thought about a true career in sports but has always loved writing and being in front of the cameraSports has meant so much to Sarah but she does caution that sports is not always perfect.To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Sarah Spain on Twitter: @SarahSpainTo Follow Sarah Spain on Instagram: @spain2323Featured Image Photo Credit: Sarah Spain

Show Notes:Completed a social media cleanse in 2020 and continued to prove to Brian that as humans we're not meant to handle all of the content availableWe have to be careful because emotions can be contagious and addictive at the same timeHe first felt freedom on the football field and even though he was the smallest player most of the time, he was never nervous about competingBelieves that the power of sports is that it requires you to understand yourself in relation to the people around youDiscipline can be best obtained when there's a system and the system is simpleWords of Wisdom from Brian Kight: "DMGB: Doesn't matter, get better." and "Outlast your cynics."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Brian Kight on Twitter: @TBrianKightTo Follow Brian Kight on Instagram: @tbriankightTo Learn more about Brian Kight: Brian KightTo Learn more about Daily Discipline: Daily DisciplineFeatured Image Photo Credit: Brian Kight

Show Notes:Damon realizes that every day is a gift and often times it's even hard for him to understand his journeyGrew up in Port Arthur, TX where his dad, Bob West, was the Sports Editor for the "Port Arthur News" and he describes Port Arthur as a melting potIt wasn't until he was around 11 years old that he realized he could throw the football really wellWhen he was 9, a female babysitter sexually abused him which ultimately led him to seek out adult vices such as drinking and smoking marijuanaWould attend the University of North Texas on a football scholarship as the starting QBAddiction to methamphetamine would derail his post-college career in the financial sector and he would resort to burglarizing people's homes to pay for his addictionHe would be sentenced to 65 years in prison in 2009 and heard the message of the coffee bean from an inmate (Mr. Jackson) in the county jail before he was moved to a Texas maximum-security prisonWas paroled in 2016 and wrote his first book and autobiography called "The Change Agent" which is now being made into a movieSports has taught him to be a team player and to be a successful team you have to be able to communicate and bond with sports providing that outlet and sports is part of something bigger than just gamesWords of Wisdom from Damon West: "Be a coffee bean."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Damon West on Twitter: @damonwest7To Follow Damon West on Instagram: @damonwest7To Learn more about Damon West: Damon WestTo Purchase "The Coffee Bean" book: The Coffee BeanFeatured Image Photo Credit: Damon West and Dallas News

Show Notes:Sports have always been part of her family as her grandfather played college basketball and was a high school basketball coachComes from a military family with her parents being in the ArmyHer parents played basketball and whenever her family moved they would always try to find out what basketball team she should try to play with and was very competitive with her brother in more than just sportsWas very fortunate to get a job with ESPN directly out of college after graduating from the University of North CarolinaShe's still motivated by her inner drive to be the vest version of herself by always looking at different ways to learnBeing someone who is continuously helping others is another source of fulfillment for her and why she wanted to be involved with The Winning Edge Leadership AcademyWords of Wisdom from Alystia via Maya Angelou: "Do the very best you can until you know better but once you know better, do better."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Alystia Moore on Twitter: @AlystiaNecoleTo Follow Alystia Moore on Instagram: @alystianecoleFeatured Image Photo Credit: Alystia Moore

Show Notes:Son of an Air Force pilot and mechanical engineer and he's always loved the challenge of building thingsWas the scrappy guy on the basketball court and loved basketballWanted to be an Air Force pilot like his dad but having to wear glasses would derail that dreamContinues the quest with each patient to find perfection while having the best outcomesOften times he's competing against himself internally to find solutions for patientsOne of his proudest moments came when he became an instrumented-rated pilot and his dad gave him the "High Flight" poemIs always looking for new challenges through his entrepreneurial spirit, being a pilot and hopes to one day to work directly for a medical device companyWords of Wisdom from Dr. Ellington: "You are who you are because of someone else."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Dr. Kent Ellington on Twitter: @kentellingtonTo Learn more about OrthoCarolina: OrthoCarolinaFeatured Image Photo Credit: OrthoCarolina

Show Notes:Saw the power of having opportunities through sports firsthand with his sisters playing college basketball and what it has allowed him to do in his careerOnce you're a coach, you'll always be a coachLoves coaching because of his passion for helping others and facilitating those opportunities that create a positive transformationEnjoyed his time at the NCAA but many times it was a very slow process to make significant changesWas an assistant women's basketball coach at the University of Alabama during the same time that Dabo Swinney was an assistant coach for the football team and believes that Dabo is the same person now as he was thenSpent time as the Director of Student-Athlete Development at Xavier UniversityWould work for the Southwestern Athletic Conference as the Associate CommissionerDedicated 8 years of his career at the NCAA a Director of Academic and Membership AffairsWords of Wisdom from Kelly: "Wisdom in itself is pretty much the key to everything we do in life."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Kelly Brooks on Twitter: @BrooksElementTo Learn more about The Brooks Element: The Brooks ElementFeatured Image Photo Credit: Kelly Brooks

Show Notes:Grew up in St. Louis but was a Chicago Cubs fan watching games on WGNLost his mom just before his 8th birthday and her gift of showcasing how to fight still inspires him todayWould attend Michigan St. University through the life insurance policy his mom had which enabled him to understand the power of financial advisingAfter he was married, Ben opened his mom's journal that she had kept during her battle with a rare and debilitating disease and was blown away by her toughness, vulnerability and positivityBen would quickly become a very successful financial advisor before his first speaking engagement at his former high school for his former high school basketball teamNow Ben works as a performance and mental coach for companies and sports teams from across the country like Kansas St. football and Alabama footballHe has written several books and his book “Own Your Success” was ranked by CEO READ as their #13 business book of 2012Ben is also currently leading the Financial Advisor Academy where he serves as a financial advisor sales coach and hosts The BURN podcastWords of Wisdom from Ben: "It's not how long you live your life, it's how you choose to live your life."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Ben Newman on Twitter: @ContinuedFightTo Follow Ben Newman on Instagram: @continuedfightTo Listen to The BURN podcast: The BURNTo Learn more about Ben Newman: Ben NewmanFeatured Image Photo Credit: Ben Newman

Steffi is recovering from her 3rd shoulder surgeryHer parents knew immediately that she had a different drive and determination at an early ageShe's always looked up to her older brother and would always want to compete with and against himHer dad and uncle founded Firehouse SubsShe loved tennis more at an earlier age but an injury stopped her from pursuing tennis and shifted her focus to basketballEarned Miss Florida Basketball in 2006 but wasn't heavily recruited and her dream was to play at the University of FloridaSigned with Florida Gulf Coast out of high school and the team lost in the national championship game finishing with a 34-1 recordShe decided to transfer to be closer to home and enrolled at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, FL because she didn't want to sit out and her brother played thereEntered Florida as a preferred walk-on but wasn't given any special treatment and would eventually be named team captain her senior seasonThe cornerstone of her family is her mother and it was a significant challenge for the entire family when her mom was placed in the ICU for 54 days due to Guillain–Barré syndromeWhile her mom was sick and when her brother suffered a head injury, she realized that she was built to be the family stabilizerShe never intended to get into broadcasting but an unexpected phone call led to being hired by ESPN to call 13 games, so she was quickly thrown into the fireEventually would like to look at the more creative side of TV with producing and directingWords of Wisdom from Steffi based on the TED Talk that she would like to give one day: "The self-preservation of believing in yourself."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Steffi Sorensen on Twitter: @SteffiSorensenTo Follow Steffi Sorensen on Instagram: @steffi_sorensenFeatured Image Photo Credit: Steffi Sorensen

Show Notes:Pronunciation of her name is a challenge for people all the time and she even wanted to change her name to Michelle growing upMichelle is still her "club name" so if someone asks for her name while out and she doesn't want to give it to them she will say, MichelleParents are Haitian immigrants and Corinne had to grow up fast interacting with adults since her mom didn't speak EnglishShe considers herself a risk-taker and a rebel as well because rarely do well-behaved women make or change historyJoined the Air Force at 17 years old and had to get special permission from her parentsPeer mentors have been a big part of her life but learned early in life about excellence as a graduate assistant for Pat SummittSports has always been something that she enjoyed but it was more from the social aspect and an opportunity to be with friendsCo-founded The Winning Edge Leadership Academy with Maria Taylor after seeing that most student-athletes weren't prepared like non-student-athletes for entering the workforce especially in the sports and entertainment industryShe loves to be challenged and understanding how she can be betterServant leadership is so important to her and is one of the foundations she tries to instill in The Winning EdgeWords of Wisdom from Corinne from Muhammed Ali: "Service to others is the rent that you pay for your time on earth."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Corinne Milien on Twitter: @Fantasti_coTo Follow Corinne Milien on Instagram: @fantasti_coTo Learn More About The Winning Edge Leadership Academy: Winning EdgeFeatured Image Photo Credit: Corinne Milien & The Winning Edge Leadership Academy

Show Notes:Ebony grew up in Washington, DCLoved watching the NFL with her family but ultimately fell in love with basketballShe became a huge Michael Jordan fan and would play against the boys which motivated her to work hard so she wasn't picked lastKnew that she wanted to have a career in sports and be a player advocateMoving to Atlanta was a culture shock from living in the DC area and she lost some of her confidence on the basketball court and it's something that she regrets that she let happenShe calls herself a "type A over-analytical perfectionist"Attended the University of Tennessee and then went to law school at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern UniversityThinking like a lawyer can be very difficult at times to turn offEducating and empowering others is still what motivates her todayWords of Wisdom from Ebony: "Give yourself grace."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Ebony McCue on Instagram: @eemcqTo Learn More About The OMBI Group, LLC: OMBI GroupFeatured Image Photo Credit: Ebony McCue

Show Notes:Proper name of gym is The Junkyard not Junkyard Fitness; only used the word fitness because it was least expensive for website rights and social mediaCo-founding The Junkyard with Marcus Brown and name came from former Clemson football teammate Dorian O'DanielHis time at Clemson prepared him for this next chapter in his life as an entrepreneur because of his time with Coach Brent Venables who Ben believes is one of the greatest leaders that he's been aroundStarted the gym in January 2018 and at the beginning and for the first four months they were conducting free classes until they officially opened on June 4th, 2018 in Anderson, SCCulture and community is different at The Junkyard and that has been Ben's goal is to build that type of community through relationshipsHis dad raced motocross and that was the plan for him growing up as the family would travel so he and his brother Garrett could raceBroke his arm which got infected and that ultimately ended his racing career as a young kid and transitioned to football and baseballSigned with Clemson University to play football and immediately noticed that talent and the preparation are the two key differentiators from high school to collegeCoach Venables pushed him harder than any other player to the point that during his Sophomore year he decided to quit but Coach Venables convinced him to stayEven though he believes that Coach Venables broke him down because he knew he could handle it, Ben feels that he responds best with positive motivation and praiseHe was pissed that he didn't get drafted but then after being released by the 49'ers, he didn't even try hard and was purposefully not trying so teams wouldn't want to sign himSports has made him who he is today, taught him how to be a leader and taught him how to workTo Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Ben Boulware on Twitter: @benboulware7To Follow Ben Boulware on Instagram: @benboulwareTo Follow The Junkyard on Instagram: @thejunkyardfitnessTo Learn More About The Junkyard: The JunkyardFeatured Image Photo Credit: Ben Boulware via Facebook

Show Notes:Courtney has always been into fashion and it started as a kid because his dad was into fashionGrowing up as an only child, his why was to make his parents proud of himGrew up in SW Atlanta in a neighborhood of successful black people outside of making it in sportsBaseball was his favorite sport but knew that his talent wouldn't afford him the ability to make a career in playingKnew he wanted to work in sports and fell in love with Florida A&M after visiting when he was 13Learned persistence from his dad and it has carried him through lifeHas become involved with The Winning Edge Leadership Academy because there really isn't a traditional way to get into sports and he wants to help the next generation with uncovering different pathways to a career in sportsFounded Kontent Incubator to help parents and families understand the business of sportsWords of Wisdom from E. Courtney Scott: "Inch by inch is a cinch, mile by mile is going to take a while."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow E. Courtney Scott on Twitter: @cscottcsTo Follow Kontent Incubator on Twitter: @KontentIncTo Follow Kontent Incubator on Instagram: @kontenincTo Learn More About Kontent Incubator: Kontent IncubatorFeatured Image Photo Credit: E. Courtney Scott

Show Notes:Vince will always wear his Auburn school colors with pride because it was really Auburn that shaped himGrew up in a small town (Chatom, AL) where his dad was Mayor and going to Auburn was an eye-opening experienceA journalism class taught by Auburn's Sports Information Director, David Housel would change his course at Auburn after he asked David if he could be involvedVince would intern in the sports information department and be published in the Auburn PlainsmanWanted to be a sportswriter because he wanted to be involved with sports and loved the storytelling and has fond memories of reading Sports IllustratedHe's never been afraid to ask and would have his parents take him to Atlanta during the summer to see the Cincinnati Reds play the Braves and would call the Reds organization to find out what hotel they were staying in to meet the playersFirst job after graduating Auburn was at a bank in Birmingham and he was fired in six monthsWould meet Richard Scrushy, founder of HealthSouth and eventually would work at HealthSouth for 6 years as VP, Marketing & CommunicationsFounded MELT (Marketing, Entertainment, Leisure, & Trends) marketing agency in 2000 which is now one of the premier sports marketing and entertainment agency in the nationThree things continue to motivate Vince: Taking care of his family; doing the best work in the world; pivoting the businessWords of Wisdom from Vince Thompson: "Change is inevitable; growth is optional. Choose wisely."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Vince Thompson on Twitter: @vinnyincTo Follow Vince Thompson on Instagram: @vinnyincTo Learn More About MELT and MELTU: MELT AtlantaFeatured Image Photo Credit: MELT

Show Notes:Grew up playing all sports and comes from a sports family so she can't remember life without sportsSports isn't just about the games but it's also about the value of being on a teamSoccer was her passion and wanted to play locally so family and other people that supported her could see her play and Charleston Southern was a great fit as a Division I schoolHas an older sister and a younger sister and her family is extremely closeRemembers being in elementary school and the excitement that she felt getting to read the morning news for the entire school which began her thought of being a broadcasterInitially sent out hundreds of highlight tapes to get a job and was willing to move anywhere in the countryWBTW in Myrtle Beach offered her a news anchor position and it was an opportunity to get in the business and it helped her build a foundation before she moved into a sports role at the stationMoved to Charlotte to work for WCNC as a sports anchor and reporter while covering the Carolina PanthersKelsey's Kicks would start while covering the Panthers and Head Coach Ron Rivera would notice her shoesIt's been such a thrill helping launch the ACC Network because the people are like family to herDoesn't focus on certain timelines and comparisons to others because she believes in the saying that 'comparisons are the thief of joy'Words of Wisdom from Kelsey Riggs from her grandfather: "I hope that we could learn to see the beauty amongst the chaos of everyday life."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Kelsey Riggs on Twitter: @kelseyriggsTo Follow Kelsey Riggs on Instagram: @kelseyriggstvFeatured Image Photo Credit: Kelsey Riggs via Instagram

Show Notes:Recruiting has been a lifeblood for his career so even during the coronavirus pandemic he is still very busyGrew up in San Diego and his dad, Al Luginbill, was a college football coach so he learned the game at an early age and fell in love with sports immediatelyFell in love with football because his dad never pushed him into footballDidn't have any major offers out of high school so he enrolled at Palomar Junior College and led them to an 11-0 season and the 1993 National ChampionshipSigned with Georgia Tech before eventually transferring to Eastern Kentucky and it was his favorite experience ever playing college football even greater than winning a National Championship at PalomarThe two biggest negatives of being a coach's son are that your dad never gets to see you play and the negativity from other people and media towards your dadAs a recruiting analyst, you have to know that you can't always be right with your evaluation predictions and you have to ignore the influence of outsidersBiggest thing that he's learned from being around sports his entire life is that people really matterWords of Wisdom from Tom Luginbill (via John Madden):"Tough times don't last but tough people do.""You can't treat everybody the same but you can treat everybody fairly."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Tom Luginbill on Twitter: @TomLuginbillTo Follow Tom Luginbill on Instagram: @tom_luginbillFeatured Image Photo Credit: ESPN

Show Notes:Maria used to live in Chicago and loves watching "The Last Dance" to relive memories but was surprised by just how many issues the team facedEven though she is a huge fan of Kobe Bryant's "Mamba Mentality", it seems that Michael Jordan was the originatorShe wants to bring that same type of mamba mentality to her career in broadcasting and is willing to make sacrifices although some of those sacrifices might be changing due to the pandemicIt was a challenge for her being very tall early in high school but she eventually understood that her height was a big advantage in sports that helped her become acceptedVolleyball became her release because she started playing it for fun and soon her drive for basketball diminished because it felt like a choreThe relationships that she formed at the University of Georgia are the things that she cherishes the most from her time thereSports prepared her to be ready once that red light goes in all aspects of her life outside of broadcastingMentors like Robin Roberts and Carla Williams helped play a major role in her success and she wanted to do the same for the next generation by co-founding "The Winning Edge Leadership Academy"Words of Wisdom from Tom Maria Taylor: "You'll be remembered by how you make people feel."To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Maria Taylor on Twitter: @MariaTaylorTo Follow Maria Taylor on Instagram: @mariataylorTo Follow The Winning Edge Leadership Academy on Twitter: @TheWELeadershipTo Follow The Winning Edge Leadership Academy on Instagram: @theweleadershipTo Find out more information about The Winning Edge Leadership Academy: Winning EdgeFeatured Image Photo Credit: [Doug Buffington/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images] and Maria Taylor (via Facebook)

Show Notes:Zach knew it was a big deal for the sports world when the NBA halted its season but never expected to be this severeBelieves that Michael Jordan is the GOAT and has enjoyed watching "The Last Dance" documentary with his dadHas always had a photographic memory for things that he's passionate about and especially sportsStarted making game predictions with his family and eventually won $500 when he was 13 for picking all 15 games correctly at a smoothie store with his dadHe always thought about going to college for sports journalism or sports management but didn't plan on getting a head start in business by picking games in high schoolZach was challenged to start his own business as a summer project and thus 'I PICK WINS' started and he founded the company in 2019 at the age of 17Zach's dad owned the right to the URL ipickwins.comReceives a lot of negative comments when he does miss picks but he doesn't worry about the outside noiseHe's never had a fear of public speaking and has been naturally confident even at an early ageFavorite teams are Dallas Cowboys, Miami Hurricanes, and Miami Heat and he can name the entire Cowboy's 53-man rosterBelieves that we love sports because it's an escape from reality and allows us to feel goodWords of Wisdom from Zach Hirsch: "Let's Go Champ!"To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Zach Hirsch on Instagram: @ipickwinsTo Learn more information about I PICK WINS: I PICK WINSFeatured Image Photo Credit: Zach Hirsch

Show Notes:Coronavirus has changed the sports world drastically and remembers how this feels very similar to 9/11Charles was exposed to sports as being part of a neighborhood and playing outdoorsHe wasn't highly recruited out of high school but knew he would play golf at Clemson once he received the offer even though his dad had been a cheerleader at the University of South CarolinaIt was overwhelming at first as a freshman and redshirting was the best thing for him to be able to prove himselfWinning the 1997 NCAA Individual Championship was the defining moment for him that led to him having the confidence that he neededAs a PGA Tour pro, you're an independent contractor and it's like running your own businessThere was a definite 'Tiger' effect on tour that you could feel whenever Tiger Woods playedStepped away from the game in 2012 because he wasn't enjoying the process anymoreHe believes that both Dabo Swinney and Larry Penley have been successful because the foundation is built around cultureWords of Wisdom from Charles Warren: "Be intentional and be aware."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Charles Warren on Twitter: @CWarreniiiTo Follow Charles Warren on Instagram: @cwarreniiiFeatured Image Photo Credit: South Carolina Golf Association

Show Notes:Sylvia is very humbled to be recognized as an SEC Legend but it makes her feel oldShe's the youngest of five and she's always been competitiveVolleyball was her first love and was not a natural at basketball when she first started playing in middle schoolOnce she became more confident, she fell in love with basketball and started dunking a tennis ball when she was in the 7th gradeStarted getting recruited by colleges during her sophomore year in high school and she was also recruited by other local high schoolsFormer LSU Head Coach Sue Gunter told her things that she didn't want to hear which she really appreciated and decided to attend LSU instead of Tennessee or Florida St.Fans in Chicago have still been very supportive of her decision to request a trade to play elsewhere and she would have sat out the entire season if neededMinnesota was the only team she wanted to play for because she felt they had a true chance to win and she already had played with Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, and Lindsay WhalenBeing overseas is extremely tough and her go-to meal, when she returns to the US, is her mom's mac-n-cheeseAlways enjoyed watching Shaq, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Kevin Garrett playShe doesn't want to put any time limits on how much longer she will playCurrently studying to be a mortician when she does stop playing and has always been a curious person and wanting to know how things workWords of Wisdom from Sylvia Fowles: "Just be the best that you can be because there's only one you."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Sylvia Fowles on Twitter: @SylviaFowlesTo Follow Sylvia Fowles on Instagram: @sylvia_fowlesFeatured Image Photo Credit: Sylvia Fowles (via Facebook)

Show Notes:Keri is paying the price now for her scholarship as a volleyball player at Syracuse with the wear & tear over the years on her bodyHaving upcoming shoulder surgery after playing dodgeball and realized that she couldn't throw the ball as she could in the pastEven at an early age was athletic and enjoyed sports and any type of physical activityStarted gymnastics but quickly outgrew the sport and eventually fell in love with volleyball and always wanted to compete with the boysSports was a way to bond with her dadShe loved the recruiting because she could explore schools outside of the northeast but felt pressure to state in-state for financial reasons and attended Syracuse UniversityHer coaching experience at Syracuse was not a good experience but knew that there would be more than volleyball later in lifeStarted writing while at Syracuse and fell in love with earning an undergraduate and master's degreeBegan her career at the NCAA but soon felt like she was trapped and sought for a way out with the help of Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Men's Basketball Head CoachStarted with ESPN in 2003 as a Senior Publicist and currently serves as Senior Director CommunicationsLife changed for her in 2008 while vacationing in Italy where she survived a violent rape attemptStill battles with the thought that she didn't trust her gut and say no to the invitation to visit her assailant's apartmentIn the moment of "fight or flight", she knows that there's a third component of "freeze" but due to her sports background she was so confident in her body that when the adrenaline started she knew how to handle her bodyKeri believes that sports saved her life because she knew her body and how to reactWords of Wisdom from Keri Potts: "To thine ownself be true."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Keri Potts on Twitter: @MsPotts_ATLTo Follow Keri Potts on Instagram: @afightbackwomanTo Learn More About A Fight Back Woman: A Fight Back WomanTo Learn More About Pathways to Safety International: PathwaysFeatured Image Photo Credit: Keri Potts (via TEDx)

Show Notes:She's still surrounded by college sports so she still feels connected to collegeFirst-year after graduating from Clemson was tough when she moved to Bristol, CTInitially thought she was going to attend the University of Georgia but fell in love with ClemsonDancing was something that she loved growing up but she struggled with somewhat of an identity crisis because she was also a tomboy and wanted to play sports with the guysDuring her sophomore year in high school, she tore her hamstring performing at a school program but it took 8 doctors before she was correctly diagnosedShe continued to battle with the hamstring injury and eventually tore her other hamstringHer parents were very supportive during the time with the injuries and appreciate them even more now knowing the cost and time spentSportscenter was always on her TV and knew early on that she wanted to be involved in telling stories through sportsTelling impactful stories in sports is her passion nowShe feels that she can connect with people because of her experience of dealing with injuriesHates when people try to make the claim that dancers aren't athletesWords of Wisdom from Kaila Burns-Heffner: "She believes she could so she did."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Kaila Burns-Heffner on Twitter: @K_BurnsHeffnerTo Follow Kaila Burns-Heffner on Instagram: @kbheffnerTo Learn More About Kaila Burns-Heffner: Kaila Burns-HeffnerFeatured Image Photo Credit: Kaila Burns-Heffner

Show Notes:NSMA moved to Winston-Salem 2-years ago and Winston-Salem has an underrated sports vibeGrowing up in Boston, Dave remembers reading the sports section at an early age and always loved the stories much more than the statsHas always loved how sports connects people together and the stories behind the games do just thatAfter graduating from Syracuse University, he would eventually make his way to Providence, RI before finally getting an opportunity to be a sports anchor in 1988 at WXII in Winston-SalemLoved being a reporter much more than anchor because as a reporter you can create storiesHockey is his favorite sport and covering the Carolina Hurricanes after their Stanley Cup win is still one of his greatest thrillsLoves teaching as a professor at Wake Forest University and bringing in guests to help develop the next generation of sportscasters and sports reportersWords of Wisdom from Dave Goren: "It's not who you know, it's who knows you."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Dave Goren on Twitter: @Dave_GorenTo Follow Alex Weaver on Instagram: @davegoren1To Follow NSMA on Twitter: @NSMASportsMediaTo learn more information about NSMA: NSMAFeatured Image Photo Credit: Dave Goren

Show Notes:Her full name is Jordan Alexis Weaver so her initials are JAWS and people would always make the sound of the movie themeShe's also commonly referred to as Weave or WeaverWas a tomboy growing up and could throw a football at an early age and has great memories of going to Clemson football games as a kidHer dad played football at East Carolina and her mom was a cheerleader at Clemson UniversityShe was an only child and playing on a travel soccer team was a way for her to feel like she had sisters and a bigger familyDuring her senior year in high school, she started dabbling in sportscasting during football games and continued as a student at Clemson while she was helping Chad Morris as a Student Administrative Recruiting AssistantNever dreamed that she would be working for NASCAR but she feels at home and loves it especially knowing that her grandfather was such a huge NASCAR fanIt can be tough as a female in a male-dominated sport but she thrives on the challengeWords of Wisdom from Alex Weaver: "Do not worry about tomorrow for today is all we have."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Alex Weaver on Twitter: @Al_WeaveTo Follow Alex Weaver on Instagram: @al_weaveFeatured Image Photo Credit: Alex Weaver

Show Notes:Ovie has probably had upwards of 100 concussions in his career but did not qualify for the NFL concussion settlementBelieves that there are pros and cons to the game of football and focuses on the prosWould allow his kids to play but not full contact football until the 9th gradeLoved the warrior mentality from his Nigerian heritage and would act like a crazed warrior on the fieldHe was all set to follow his dad in the medical profession as a doctor until NFL scouts were interested in him during his senior season at Wake Forest UniversityHas always wanted to prove his doubters wrong but had many times in his career when he doubted himselfDeion Sanders was a major help and mentor during his rehab from an injury early in his careerBeing selected to his first Pro Bowl was a huge God moment in his life and faith has been a part of his life since childhoodStarted the Ovie Mughelli Foundation in 2008 and the Gridiron Green comic was inspired by his love of the comic/cartoon Captain PlanetFor him, sports is love, creates relationships and an outlet to be the best version of yourselfWords of Wisdom from Ovie Mughelli: "Love others and know that you are loved."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Quincy Avery on Twitter: @oviemughelli34To Follow Quincy Avery on Instagram: @ovie34To Learn more about Ovie Mughelli Foundation: OMFGreenFeatured Image Photo Credit: Ovie Mughelli

Show Notes:Dad played NFL & college football and served as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Tony DungyHis dad went missing before a game in 2000 vs the Atlanta Falcons because of a drug addictionQuincy played at Morehouse College but always wanted to be a head coach of an NFL teamAfter college, he drove to UCLA and meet with Rick Neuheisel with hopes of getting a jobLived in the locker room at UCLA before returning to Atlanta with hopes of starting a QB training companyHe didn't have any money to rent a facility but scheduled an elite camp at 5:30 AM at a donated facility but no one showed upJosh Dobbs eventually asked if could work with Quincy because he didn't have any college offers at the timeHelping guys get to the next level ultimately makes him happy and he's a product of being driven by what he says he wants to accomplishHas helped over 150 players earn scholarships saving parents over $14 million in tuitionVery hard to trust people because he’s seen how outside factors can become more important to loved ones than the person that they’re supposed to love the mostWas homeless he moved back to Atlanta but feels that the thing that you fear the most in the world is not so badLikes working with 10th and 11th graders the most because you get to see them developKnew Deshaun would be a great talent immediately because he immediately saw the IT factor combined with talentSports helped him learn to deal with adversityWords of Wisdom from Quincy Avery: "Don’t get caught up in the things that other people are saying about what you’re doing."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Quincy Avery on Twitter: @Quincy_AveryTo Follow Quincy Avery on Instagram: @quincyaveryTo Learn more about Quarterback Takeover: QB TakeoverTo Listen to QB Podcast with Quincy Avery: QB PodcastFeatured Image Photo Credit: Quincy Avery

Show Notes:His discipline can be traced back to his parents growing up in St. Augustine, FLSaw first hand from friends that did make it by listening to wise counsel and ones that didn't because they didn't listen to wise counselLoved basketball early because his dad played basketball at FAMU and had a brief stint in the NBAFirst time he played football he knew he was hookedFlorida St. was his college team growing up but no major Florida schools offered him so it was motivation for him whenever he played those schoolsRecruited solely to play Safety at Clemson even though other schools recruited him as a WR as wellPrefers to use the term scholar-athlete instead of student-athlete because they will be a scholar the rest of their livesBelieves that sports can create unique bonds with people that is very hard to replicate anywhere elseKnew that working with Clemson Football and the PAW Journey (Passionate About Winning) was the place for him because it's about serving the player's hearts and not just their talentsWords of Wisdom from Rashard Hall: “Be different to make a difference."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Rashard Hall on Twitter: @ChristTrainingTo Follow Rashard Hall on Instagram: @worldbfreeTo Learn more about P.A.W. Journey: P.A.W. JourneyFeatured Image Photo Credit: Clemson Football

Show Notes:Currently changing his lifestyle of eating and exercise because of his obesity which he knew would eventually kill himListened to the book "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins which motivated him to start changing his healthGrew up on the streets of Brooklyn, NY and basketball was his first love in sportsKnew that sports could be a way out but he also had the temptations of living a life on the streetsWas mentored to leave Brooklyn to attend a military school in Virginia at 13-years old and immediately hated it trying to do anything to get expelledMade his way to Lackawanna College in Scranton, PA where he was convinced to play football and knew that if he didn't then he would return to living the streetsAfter getting a scholarship to play at the University of South Carolina he knew he wanted to coach so he could help others as he had been helpedHelped Pace Academy to their first state title in 2015Even though he's a New York Knicks fan, he still believes that Michael Jordan is the GOATWords of Wisdom from Kevin Johnson: “Continue to help others."To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsFeatured Image Photo Credit: Kevin Johnson

Show Notes:Parents came to America from Liberia and Rennie's mom went to Emory UniversityGoing back to Liberia as an adult was very powerful and has much more appreciation for everything in lifeHis goal is to build a state-of-the-art training facility for sports and education in LiberiaStarting playing football for the Brookwood Community Football League and was immediately hooked on footballGrew up with two sisters and football was his opportunity of having brothersWanted to play RB at University of Georgia but Thomas Davis showed him that defense could be fun alsoHas a musical ear and plays multiple instrumentsHis decision to go pro after his Junior season was based on being a father and he wanted to provide for his daughterDuring his playing career, he would shut off emotions to deal with fans, crowds and staying focusedHe continues to stay in a constant growth mindset which was developed through sportsWords of Wisdom from Rennie Curran: “Training camp moments in life.”To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Rennie Curran on Twitter: @RennieCurran53To Follow Rennie Curran on Instagram: @renniecurranTo Find Out More Information About Game Changer Coaching: renniecurran.comFeatured Image Photo Credit: Rennie Curran

Show Notes:Wants to help improve the lives of others and believes in being a servant leaderSupport from his family has been very important to himGrowing up never had a relationship with former Atlanta Falcons star Jesse Tuggle but does nowFound wrestling after he didn’t make the 8th-grade basketball team and would become state champion his senior seasonWould have severe anxiety as a wrestler but after winning the state championship he learned the lesson of the power of your mindPrefers to experience the pain of discipline instead of the pain of regret and believes that if the best athletes in the world focus on the grind then so should heDoesn’t believe in comparisons but does believe that LeBron James is the GOATGuys are very prideful about the college teams in an NFL locker room and there’s a lot of trash-talking when teams play against each otherWords of Wisdom from Grady Jarrett:“I want to do what I can while I can, so when I cannot, I will not wish I would have when I could have.”To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Grady Jarrett on Twitter: @GradyJarrettTo Follow Grady Jarrett on Instagram: @gradyjarrettFeatured Image Photo Credit: Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:Does not refer to himself as the “Voice of the Tigers” as he believes that Jim Philips will always be the “Voice”Don’s college roommate Mike Gore got him into broadcasting at Appalachian St. UniversityHis Dad was born in Atlanta and was a Presbyterian minister and worked in a radio ministry and his faith came from a very young ageLove of sports began early because his parents loved sportsAs a kid, Bobby Orr was a hero and is on his bucket list of people to meetHank Aaron is also on his bucket list but Joe Torre was his favorite player on the BravesHe was involved in drama in high school and loved being on stage and somewhat of a natural hamBelieves that Dabo Swinney is one of the greatest servant leaders he’s ever been aroundHis faith has deepened because of his special needs daughter MichelleThe hope is for him and his wife Elizabeth to start a foundationWords of Wisdom from Don Munson:“The best days are ahead of you not behind you.”To Subscribe to YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Don Munson on Twitter: @WDonaldMunsonTo Follow Don Munson on Instagram: @donmunsonFeatured Image Photo Credit: Clemson University

Show Notes:Transition is very tough because he has been defined by football even though he didn’t want to be defined by footballFinding peace in life though now that football is over knowing that it wasn’t in God’s plan for himSoccer was the first sport he remembers playing because his dad loved soccer as an immigrant from HaitiAfter the 9th grade, he decided to only play football even though he also loved basketballOriginally was going to commit to Duke but changed his mind after a 2 1/2 hour phone conversation with Coach Brent Venables and then his grandfather who said that he felt it in his spirit that Kendall should attend Clemson UniversityHis first start at Auburn in 2016 was one of his most memorable games outside of winning two national championshipsThe bus ride is much more of an experience than actually running down the hillParents got divorced and his relationship with his dad was rocky initially but they have made amends and repaired the relationshipThe culture at Clemson is all about holding men accountableGetting named team captain by his teammates was a big honor his senior seasonSports has exposed him to so many different opportunities from friendships, relationships, dealing with failure to winning championshipsWords of Wisdom from Kendall Joseph:“Don’t let the light shining on you be brighter than the light shining within you.”To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Kendall Joseph on Twitter: @KendallJoseph34To Follow Kendall Joseph on Instagram: @kendalljoseph34Featured Image Photo Credit: Harry How | Getty Images

Show Notes:Comes from a sports family with her mom playing tennis at Duke, her brother John played college basketball and her dad jokingly drank beer for OklahomaHer brother helped push her and played a significant part in her playing college basketball at Clemson UniversityHer dream from a very young age was to play college basketball and immediately fell in love with ClemsonShe jokingly likes to say that she’s the “least overall athletic person to play” but hard work got her playing time and she could shootShe has always been hard on herself but eventually, she was able to understand that her identity wasn’t through sports but through ChristInitially thought she would be a professor but Jeff Kallin introduced her to William Qualkinbush and suggested that they have a radio show togetherBelieves that sports is truly a meritocracy if your willing to put in the work and basketball is not about me, its about the collective and that’s why sports are so importantWords of Wisdom from Kelly Gramlich:“Love your neighbor as yourself.”To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Kelly Gramlich on Twitter: @kellygramlichTo Follow Kelly Gramlich on Instagram: @kellygramlichTo Follow 105.5 The Roar on Twitter: @1055TheROARTo Listen to 105.5 The Roar: WCCP 105.5 The RoarFeatured Image Photo Credit: Kelly Gramlich

Show Notes:Rich Spotlight: Drew ButlerBorn in Chicago with his 2 sisters as his dad Kevin Butler played in the NFL for 13 years (11 with Chicago and 2 with Cardinals)Moved to Georgia in 1999 and has loved football his whole life but never played until high schoolHis nickname was Little Butthead because his dad’s nickname with the Chicago Bears was ButtheadStarted the Punt & Pass Podcast with Aaron Murray as he saw that no former recent football players were doing something like his ideaHis goal was to be a PGA Tour player but eventually starting playing football at Peachtree Ridge High School and was a better punter than a kickerAlmost went to Duke but decided to attend Georgia like his father after they offered him a scholarship instead of being a preferred walk-onBeliefs there are so many crossover similarities from kicking and golf and loves how both golf and kicking can never be perfectedWords of Wisdom from Drew Butler:“Positivity plus persistence equals perseverance.”To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On SportsTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Drew Butler on Twitter: @DrewBut13rTo Follow Drew Butler on Instagram: @drewbutler13To Follow Punt & Pass Podcast on Twitter: @PuntandPassTo Follow Punt & Pass Podcast on Instagram: @PuntandPassTo subscribe to Punt & Pass Podcast on Apple Podcasts: Punt & PassFeatured Image Photo Credit: Campus Lore

Episode 117: Dalen Cuff | ESPN ACC Network Studio Host and Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dalen Cuff Recently made the move from Florida to Connecticut to help launch ACC Network with ESPN as a studio host & analyst Up until about 12-14 years old he thought that he would in the NBA and then have a career in broadcasting and then realized that there are some better players out there Moved to Florida before high school and it was a tough transition however playing sports helped him connect and make friends Dad played basketball at Duquesne and was drafted by the US Army and the New York Knicks at the same time (October 1967) Columbia University called in December of his senior season but didn’t visit until April so getting an offer was late but thoroughly enjoyed his time at Columbia even though they only won 2 games his Freshman year Learned from his dad to expect to be great and that you live up to or down to your expectations Would eventually leave his sports marketing job to pursue broadcasting full-time even though financially it wasn’t the best move Treated every game that he called like it was the Final Four and still has that same mentality today Thought about coaching but he didn’t want to miss out on other broadcasting opportunities Believes that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player Words of Wisdom from Dalen Cuff: “Things start with self-belief.” To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On Sports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Dalen Cuff on Twitter: @DalenCuff To Follow Dalen Cuff on Instagram: @dalencuff Featured Image Photo Credit: ESPN

Episode 116: Retin Obasohan | NBA G-League Guard & 2016 First Team All-SEC Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Retin Obasohan Two older brothers and one younger and they all are very competitive while always pushing each other Parents emigrated from Nigeria to Belgium to provide a better future and parents didn’t allow him and his brothers to see negatives Soccer and tennis were the first 2 sports he gravitated towards because his dad played soccer but his love of basketball began while watching his brother play First experience with American basketball was at a Kobe Bryant basketball camp Learned English at an early age but spoke Dutch and French Transition to Alabama was eye-opening and it was the little details like food, weather, southern hospitality and segregation Baron Davis, Allen Iverson, Gary Payton, Deron Williams were players that he tried to emulate True foundation on how he has tried to build his life has been through his faith Sports is very spiritual to Retin and these bible verses are very important to him: Jerimiah [29:11], Romans 8:2,8 Philippians [4:13] Words of Wisdom from Retin Obasohan: “Action is a motivation. Don’t wait until you feel like doing it.” To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On Sports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Retin Obasohan on Twitter: @Oballsohard To Follow Retin Obasohan on Instagram: @oballsohard Featured Image Photo Credit: Garrett Ellwood | Getty Images

Episode 115: Maxx Lepselter | MAXX Management President and Founder Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Maxx Lepselter Played all different sports growing up like most kids Grew up in the sports representation agency through his dad (Mark Lepselter) which started as an organic opportunity of managing Lawrence Taylor’s restaurant Has always been a fan of all the NY sports teams but now it’s harder to be a fan of a team with clients on different teams and he knew that he would eventually become a general fan His dad has been a great mentor but not having him as a boss has been a good situation and environment for him to grow Maxx now has the ability to assist his dad because of how the industry has changed and how he can bring a different perspective His goal when starting MAXX Management in 2018 was to offer other services more than just marketing endorsements Words of Wisdom from Maxx Lepselter: “Giving respect and doing the right thing are keys to relationships.” To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On Sports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Maxx Lepselter on Twitter: @MaxxLep To Follow Maxx Lepselter on Instagram: @maxxlep To Find out more information about MAXX Management: MAXX Management Featured Image Photo Credit: Maxx Lepselter

Episode 114: Michael Serazio | Award-Winning Author & Boston College Associate Professor Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Michael Serazio Grew up in San Diego, CA and some of his fondest childhood memories are cheering for the hometown beloved Padres and Chargers Sports was always a way to connect with family and especially his grandfather Has always been intrigued by the power of sports and its magnetic properties of pulling people together from all types of different backgrounds Michael has been drawn to journalism from an early age Spent countless hours conducting research for the book “The Power of Sports: Media and Spectacle in American Culture” and conducted interviews with dozens of high-profile leaders and professionals in sports media and journalism The Power of Sports is his second book Authored “Your Ad Here: The Cool Sell of Guerilla Marketing” We explore and unpack some of the unique qualities of sports in our society outlined in his book Words of Wisdom from Michael Serazio: “The greatest gift that you can give someone you love is your attention.” To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On Sports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Michael Serazio on Twitter: @michaelserazio To Find “The Power of Sports: Media & Spectacle in American Culture”: Amazon Featured Image Photo Credit: Boston College

Episode 113: Blake Wynn | B Wynn Sports CEO & Entrepreneur Influencer Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Blake Wynn First sign of be an entrepreneur was when he was 10 and wanted an Ipad and started a car wash with friends which he earned $1,000 Wants to be able to choose what he wants to do and enjoys the process of making money but not enjoying the dollar Has a passion for business – plays business like a video game – get the next high score Grew up as an only child and has always had a very close circle of friends Could not work for someone else and wants to build his own dream and legacy and would rather fail at something that he’s passion about Became a San Diego Chargers fan in 2007 watching AFC Championship game vs. the New England Patriots and became a fan of LaDainian Tomlinson Had to eventually give up playing most sports in high school because he was traveling too much He never started his YouTube channel in order to make money He’s writing his next chapter in life by creating B Wynn Sports which has the ability to carry on much longer than his YouTube channel He’s not worried about failure and isn’t consumed by looking at competitors and makes every decision based on happiness Believes that sports is like religion in how it connects and brings people together Words of Wisdom from Blake Wynn: “If you’re doing something now that makes you feel like a winner, keep doing it.” To Subscribe to Rich Take On Sports YouTube Channel: Rich Take On Sports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Blake Wynn on Twitter: @JustWynn_ To Follow Blake Wynn on Instagram @just_wynn To Follow B Wynn Sports on Instagram @bwynnsports To Subscribe to Just Wynn YouTube Channel: Just Wynn Featured Image Photo Credit: Rich Take On Sports

Episode 112: Kelsey Plum | WNBA Las Vegas Aces Guard Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Kelsey Plum Comes from a big sports family who are very competitive and everyone played Division I sports Kelsey told her mom when she was 10-year old that she was going to play in the WNBA Has always viewed herself as an underdog her entire life and her rise to a star came very quickly which has been a challenge to adjust Her family still keeps her humble at times and faith has been very important in her life especially now after leaving college and believes that “at every step of my life God has directed my steps” So grateful that her parents never pushed her into anything but you could never quit anything even though there were times that she wanted to quit and even basketball Biggest challenge at the University of Washington was changing the culture and it still seems surreal to take the Huskies to the Final Four her junior season Relishes the role quieting the crowd while playing on the road Sports has allowed her to connect with so many people and develop friendships Words of Wisdom from Kelsey Plum: John Wooden quote “Working hard does not guarantee success but not working hard guarantees failure.” To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Kelsey Plum on Twitter: @Kelseyplum10 To Follow Kelsey Plum on Instagram @kelseyplum10 Featured Image Photo Credit: David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images

Episode 111: Dave Dameshek | NFL Network Host and Contributor Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dave Dameshek Has finally made the transition of living in California His childhood memories growing up in Pittsburgh, PA are dominated by sports Inspiration for his comedy came from watching David Letterman Feels that his journey to LA and career is a product of dumb luck Bobby Knight agreed to allow him to interview him in Assembly Hall while he was a student at Indiana and Coach Knight swore at him His first comedy writing job was on the show Sports Geniuses which is where he was ultimately connected with Kevin Hench and then would meet Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla Words of Wisdom from Dave Dameshek: Be Nice The mark of a good person is how or she treats those who can do nothing for him To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Dave Dameshek on Twitter: @Dameshek To Follow Dave Dameshek on Instagram @ddameshek To Learn More Information About DDFP: Dave Dameshek Football Program Featured Image Photo Credit: Diego Donamaria | Getty Images

Episode 110: Rob Parker | Fox Sports and FS1 Contributor & Host Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Rob Parker Being full of energy and seemingly crazy is not an act but just him always looking out for Mr. Joe Fan by asking the tough questions Has always been that guy of pushing back and asking tough questions Got his dream job 5 months after graduating college with NY Daily News and went to grad school because he didn’t want to rest on his laurels Parents divorced at 12-years old and his mom was the rock of his family with 3 kids and he learned work ethic from her The TV show The Odd Couple influenced him to be a sportswriter Started a sports newspaper in high school named Sportsline Loved baseball more than anything and he wanted to cover baseball so he left NY to go to Cincinnati covering the Reds Always considers himself a writer at heart even though he’s been on TV for over 20-years Advice for aspiring journalists is that you’re working for the fans and be honest and accurate Sports is escapism and other countries have national sports pride but the US is much more individualized with regional teams Was able to remove himself as a fan because the Mets won the World Series his first year in the business and he doesn’t miss being a fan Words of Wisdom from Rob Parker: Don’t be afraid to take risks and it doesn’t happen overnight To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rob Parker on Twitter: @RobParkerFS1 To Follow Rob Parker on Instagram @robparkerfs1 To Learn More Information About The Shadow League: The Shadow League Featured Image Photo Credit: Rob Parker | Instagram

Episode 109: Chad Steele | VP of Public Relations, Baltimore Ravens Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Chad Steele There’s really no off-season for the NFL and people want NFL 365 days-a-year Social media can be both a blessing and a curse Spent most of his life overseas and really enjoyed moving and getting to experience other places Sports was always big in his family with both parents being athletic and his dad, Gary Steele, was the first African-American football player at Army in 1966 Sports helped him and his siblings make friends in new towns and become engrained into the communities where they moved Sports also helped instill discipline outside of his military home First love was soccer and football became his passion because he wanted to be like his dad but it was basketball where he excelled earning a scholarship to play at Winthrop University Work ethic came from his parents with his parents feeling that they were against the world as an interracial couple in 1971 Part of the Army Cadet prayer turned into a family motto: Make us choose the harder right than the easier wrong and never be content with the half truth when the whole can be won Was given internship opportunities that he should have never gotten but people believed in him which led to a career in the NFL through Public Relations Relationships and the impact of those relationships are what stands out the most to him and the hardest part of his job is when players leave the organization Networking has a negative connotation because it isn’t personal and it’s only about what you can gain Words of Wisdom from Chad Steele: Knowledge is power Relationships and Reputation To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Chad Steele on Twitter: @CSteele32 To Follow the Baltimore Ravens: @Ravens To Learn more information about Gary Steele: Gary Steele – ESPN Video Featured Image Photo Credit: Richmond Weaver | Rich Take On Sports

Episode 108: Milt Lowder, Ph.D. | Clemson Athletics Sport Psychologist Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Milt Lowder Always tries to make people see him as just Milt and not to have people feel like they are being judged Knew three things growing up farming, medicine, and sports Was recruited by Wofford for baseball but only applied to one school (Clemson) Success is defined as a pursuit of a worthy goal Life threw several curve balls at him starting as a junior in high school being the first on the scene after his mom’s car wreck Wanted to be a college basketball coach but after not getting an opportunity under Rick Barnes he visited a psychologist through his mom and immediately knew that he wanted to be a psychologist Started the process of becoming a psychologist in 1997 and eventually started practicing in 2005 in Greenville, SC Starting working with Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Football team in 2009 Hardest part of the job is that you can’t take away someone’s pain but you can be present F.R.E.E. is an acronym for Focus Relax Engage Enjoy and helps athletes understand that you play your best when you can play free Coach Swinney came up with the tagline “Moments with Milt” One of the biggest rewards is watching the players and coaches experience joy Words of Wisdom from Milt Lowder, Ph.D.: Hebrews 11:1 James [1:12] To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Milt Lowder, Ph.D. on Twitter: @miltlowder To Follow Synergy Performance on Twitter: @SynPerformance To Learn more information about Synergy Performance: Synergy Performance Featured Image Photo Credit: Matt Fortuna | The Athletic

Episode 107: Bill Hancock | College Football Playoff Executive Director Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bill Hancock Passion for the College Football Playoff is extremely high and fans want to have input and fans have a sense of ownership with college sports and especially football which causes such high passion Love baseball first and then came college football and his favorite memories were of baseball with the local semi-pro team in Hobart, OK Started at Dartmouth and then finished school at Oklahoma marrying his childhood sweetheart and they have been married for 50 years Even though he had a paper route as a kid and started being a writer in high school he wanted to be the next great American Classical pianist Doesn’t play much anymore and developed a phobia of playing in front of people Fell into the Sports Information department his senior year and worked full time at Oklahoma in 1971 Barry Switzer was the best people person that he ever met John MacLeod was the basketball coach at the time and convinced him to start running After his dad died he helped his brother take over the newspaper business Has run 15 marathons and endurance sports was a way to get back to normal after his son’s death who died when the Oklahoma St. University men’s basketball team planes crashed in eastern Colorado He had a premonition that his son would die which gave him proof of the eternal truth of God and his son’s death gave him a gift of understanding how precious life is Rode his bike across the country from Los Angeles to Savannah 7-months after the death of his son and eventually wrote a book about that journey, “Riding With The Blue Moth” He feels that he’s the luckiest person to be involved with March Madness and CFP Words of Wisdom from Bill Hancock: “Treat people the way you want to be treated.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Bill Hancock on Twitter: @BHancockCFP To Follow Bill Hancock on Instagram: @bhancockcfp To Follow College Football Playoff on Twitter: @CFBPlayoff To Follow College Football Playoff on Instagram: @cfbplayoff To learn more information about CFP: College Football Playoff Featured Image Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

Episode 106: John Harkes | Greenville Triumph SC Head Coach & National Soccer Hall of Fame Member Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: John Harkes Very fortunate to have such a long playing career with great accomplishments being on the first team to qualify for 1990 World Cup and then in the inaugural season of the MLS in 1996 Loved building a club in Cincinnati and loves the challenge in Greenville with building the Greenville Triumph SC in it’s the inaugural season in 2019 He has always been an optimistic guy even with coaching Played all the other sports but gravitated to soccer immediately growing up in Kearny, NJ (Soccertown USA) Competing against the older guys was the biggest thing that helped them Academics were the biggest challenge once he got to UVA and it was a tough decision to forego his senior season to play on the US Men’s National Team Motivation comes more from having a chip on his shoulder and proving people wrong Was accepted in Europe after scoring the “Goal of the Year” against Peter Schilling Best players he faced were Romario, Roberto Baggio, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Bryan Robson (Captian Marvel), and Mark Hughes TV broadcasting was fun but Coaching is rewarding Loves being in Greenville and the genuine warmness of people and clubs like Reedy River Riot are helping educate fans Some of his favorite music on his playlist consists of AC/DC, U2, and soulful Blues Words of Wisdom from John Harkes: “You’re never bigger than the club.” “You’re only as good as the next game.” “You can’t expect other people to believe in you unless you believe in yourself first.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow John Harkes on Twitter: @johnharkes6 To Follow John Harkes on Instagram: @jharkesy6 To Follow Greenville Triumph on Twitter: @GVLTriumph To Follow Greenville Triumph on Instagram: gvltriumph To learn more information about Greenville Triumph: Greenville Triumph To learn more information about Reedy River Riot: Reedy River Riot Featured Image Photo Credit: Steve Wallace | Creative Concepts

Episode 105: Brooke Weisbrod | ESPN College Basketball Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Brooke Weisbrod Her job inherently consists of hurry up and wait but it’s also a symphony of organized chaos She really enjoys things not on camera that you get to experience during practices, pre-game, and post-game and gets energized more from those things behind the scenes than being in front of the camera Thoughts of one day doing play-by-play but it’s the most challenging position in the industry other than sideline reporting for football Nick Saban is the toughest coach to track down and she was intimidated the first times she had to grab a coach going into halftime and Charlie Strong when he was at Louisville was someone she really enjoyed Her family is super athletic and that was just part of her family so she was born into sports and a competitive family Became obsessive with Tennis because of an Andre Agassi ad which showed a larger than life athlete in a conservative sport She’s always liked to challenge the norm and to even create new norms and credits ESPN for pushing the boundaries Had an opportunity to play basketball overseas in Germany but fell waterskiing two-weeks before she left and injured her back which ultimately forced her to retire from playing after a short stint in Germany She was in Germany when 9/11 occurred and information was very difficult to obtain until the following day but the Germans were very empathetic A chance opportunity doing an in-game interview with Matt Hogue, Coastal Carolina basketball announcer and current AD led her to understand that being a sportscaster was what she wanted to do in her career She thinks LeBron will have more rings than Michael Jordan Sports in her life has given her a sense of purpose on a team, confidence, learning from failure and being in a gym was therapeutic – went to practice after her young brother died after being born with a congenital heart defect Her dream is to redesign the women’s basketball uniforms Diana Taurasi is the GOAT in women’s basketball Words of Wisdom from Brooke Weisbrod: Best advice for her industry: “Have a take and don’t suck.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Brooke Weisbrod on Twitter: @BrookeWeisbrod To Follow Brooke Weisbrod On Instagram: @brooke.weisbrod To Find out more information about Brooke: Brooke Weisbrod Featured Image Photo Credit: Brooke Weisbrod – Instagram

Episode 104: Bradley Pinion | Tampa Bay Buccaneers & Former Clemson Punter Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bradley Pinion In today’s NFL, there’s really no off-season anymore as you will workout throughout the year Loves binge-watching on Hulu, Netflix and recently watched “Legion” and one of his favorites is “Suits” First love was soccer and started playing at 4 and has a brother that is 4 years older but didn’t start playing football until 7th or 8th grade His grandfather played football and was a punter for a season with the Dallas Cowboys and his grandfather always pushed him to be a punter First time he ever tried to kick a football was a 35-yard FG with his dad and he made it He used to hate punting because punting is very hard Played varsity football as a freshman and eventually had offers from 33 schools but his top-3 were UNC, Georgia and Clemson Firmly believes that if the high school punter Jeremy Cannon doesn’t get hurt his freshman year then he wouldn’t have been a punter Mike Dooley from Clemson called him to invite him to Junior Day at Clemson because he knew he was at Georgia’s Junior Day Got to run down the hill and he fell in love immediately with Clemson but had to wait for an offer from Clemson Bradley asked God for help deciding where he should commit and eventually, he had an encounter with a man wearing a bright orange shirt without a Tiger Paw who Bradley believed was an angel and from that moment he felt it in his heart that he should commit to Clemson Parents got divorced when he was in 7th & 8th grade and had a profound effect and football was his release and his escape Strategic move to come out early because no other punters in the class and he had broken up with his girlfriend and now wife Feels very blessed to be around players like Eric Reid, Darnell Dockett, Colin Kaepernick while also learning from Phil Dawson  from Robbie Gould Now looking back, he’s glad that he was part of the events during the National Anthem saga in San Francisco As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 Words of Wisdom from Bradley Pinion: Proverbs 23:7 – “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Bradley Pinion on Twitter: @bpinion05 To Follow Bradley Pinion On Instagram: @bpinion05 Featured Image Photo Credit: Carmen Vitali – buccaneers.com

Episode 103: Jason Barrett | President of Barrett Sports Media and Sports Radio Consultant Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Jason Barrett Making people Laugh, allowing listeners to Learn, and being Likable are the 3 qualities of successful sports talk radio hosts Never felt that he a great host but was a good producer Always loved sports and reading about NY sports and WFAN was his first experience to sports talk radio (Mike and the Mad Dog) Was a musician (drummer) before moving into a sports talk radio career Found a small station in upstate NY  and did everything… writing, clips, producing, selling and learned the business from the inside Did a wrestling show once a week (Sunday night 9-11 PM) Worked at ESPN for 2 years with hosts like Doug Gottlieb, Dan Patrick, John Seibel, Freddie Coleman Eventually started building stations and 101 ESPN in St. Louis is one of the stations he built and now celebrates 10-years Didn’t want to be in a situation where he missed his son’s high school career because he was chasing ratings so he moved back to NY from San Francisco Turned down opportunities to be a producer again in order to found Barrett Sports Media (BSM) and create sportsradiopd.com Words of Wisdom from Jason Barrett: “Adversity causes some to break and others to break records.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Jason Barrett on Twitter: @sportsradiopd To Learn more information about Barrett Sports Media: Barrett Sports Media Featured Image Photo Credit: Barrett Sports Media

Episode 102: Patrick Sapp | Former NFL & Clemson Football Player and “ONE Clemson” Founding Member Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Patrick Sapp Has always been intrigued by fashion that comes from his parents Owned a clothing store “Coast2Coast” in Jacksonville, FL but was too difficult to manage while living on the west coast playing in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers Grew up in Jacksonville, FL the youngest of six kids (3 boys/3 girls) Every day was competition in the Sapp household but filled with love Around a lot of devastation growing up in Jacksonville and his own sister was addicted to crack but she has been clean for 15-years now Had guys that didn’t allow him to do things that he shouldn’t do because they knew he had the athletic ability that could carry him out of the tough neighborhood Football was his first love because his brothers played and that’s just what you did The challenge today for getting kids outside to play in the neighborhood is because there aren’t as many kids playing today and the sense of community is gone Recruited for both basketball and football and his plan was to play both sports Clemson, Syracuse, FSU were the 3 main schools and Syracuse recruited him hard but the weather and distance were the biggest factors Made the decision himself to move from QB to LB his senior season and the Clemson coaches didn’t think he could make the move at first Drafted in the 2nd round of 1996 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and even knew on draft night that he would be more than just a football player Junior Seau was a mentor to him while in San Diego Eddie George was one of the toughest running backs in the NFL and Larry Allen was the hardest person to play against Words of Wisdom from Patrick Sapp: “Belief that you can do anything.” “God challenges us in life purposefully.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Patrick Sapp on Twitter: @PZSapp To Follow Patrick Sapp on Instagram: @thepatricksapp To Learn more information about ONE Clemson: ONE Clemson Featured Image Photo Credit: 96.3 The Block

Episode 101: Ivan Maisel | ESPN Senior Writer & “College Football 150” Editor-At-Large Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Ivan Maisel Met his wife Meg in NY while he was a fact checker for Sports Illustrated and when they moved to Dallas she eventually said that she wanted to move back to the northeast Learned how to read by  reading the Sporting News Dad was a high school basketball coach and sports was always big in his family because of Alabama football and Bear Bryant Wanted to be the Atlanta Braves play-by-play announcer Loved college football and baseball but like college sports so much better than MLB and learned that when was a fact checker for SI Went to Stanford because it was at the same level of Ivy league schools but had football and it was in the Pac-8 English teacher in high school encourage him to be a writer and chooses stories based on does it interest him and what are some of the main points that he would tell his brother Was hired by Dallas Morning News in 1987 and coaches always called him back because the Morning News covered more college football than any other paper in the country Thinks in words, not in pictures and connections are emotional with college sports especially football Words of Wisdom from Ivan Maisel: “Regarding mental health, don’t be scared to reach out to someone either if someone is struggling or you’re struggling yourself.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Ivan Maisel on Twitter: @Ivan_Maisel To Learn more information about “College Football 150”: College Football 150 Featured Image Photo Credit: Melissa Macatee

Rich Spotlight: Dawn StaleySports was a neighborhood function growing up and she was always competitive and had to be competitive in her household being the youngest of 5Always been attracted to basketball and became better at earlier and could play year round and wanted to get on the big boy courtHank Gathers, Bo Kimble played in her neighborhood and once she got on the big boy court she stuck because of her passing game. Could see the game differently at an earlier ageHas always been viewed as Tomboy but any type of verbal abuse strengthened herDebbie Ryan at the University of Virginia starting recruiting her in the 9th gradeStill guarded and hard to earn her trust but once you’re in then you’re in for lifeTrust is a huge factor and she needs the relationship with recruitsBalances her harshness as a coach with loveShe’s a builder and likes creating building strong foundationsNo desire to coach a men’s team as she wants to develop young players to reach the WNBAWords of Wisdom from Dawn Staley:“The disciplined person can do anything.”“You have to do what you don’t want to do, to get what you want.”Social Media:To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Dawn Staley on Twitter: @dawnstaleyTo Follow Dawn Staley on Instagram: @staley05To Learn more information about South Carolina Athletics: GamecocksFeatured Image Photo Credit: University of South Carolina Athletics

Episode 99: Bill Curry | 2x Super Bowl Champion, Coach, Speaker, & Author Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bill Curry Continues to focus on working out each day even after 5 shoulder surgeries through his career Hated football and went out for football only because that’s how you got a date and was scared of football and wanted to quit Had 2 goals in life at 12-years old: Marry Carolyn Newton Pitch for the NY Yankees Fell in love with football while playing for Don Shula at the age of 25 Became to obsessive about football and it impacted his personal life Every QB that he ever played with required the snap a different way Selfishly enjoyed playing more than coaching but loved all of the players he coached and still hears from players today Regrets not spending enough time with his family during his playing and coaching days 11 years with ESPN – 20 games per year and he and Carolyn have been involved with over 700 football games together Didn’t like Lombardi as a player and regretted ever saying that and asked his forgiveness while Vince was on his death bed Words of Wisdom from Bill Curry: “Love God with all your mind, all your heart, all your strength, and all your soul.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Bill Curry on Twitter: @coachbillcurry To Learn more information about Bill Curry: Bill Curry Featured Image Photo Credit: Bill Curry via Twitter

Episode 98: Nathan Whitaker | New York Times Bestselling Author & Speaker Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Nathan Whitaker Has always enjoyed speaking and when he worked for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers he was involved in speaking within the community He feels that its energizing to speak and really likes connecting with people Has always loved sports and as a kid, he would ride his bike to watch University of Florida Gators games Recruited by Duke for baseball and walked-on at Duke for football Went to law school and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School Never thought he wanted to have a career in sports and went to law school because he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do #1 trait is competitiveness Felt convicted to write Tony Dungy’s book and always appreciated Tony’s witness during times of the circus but Tony didn’t want to write a book and it took about 3-years to convince him Jamie’s death was the tipping point for Tony to agree to write the book with Nathan Took him 24 days to write the first book, “Quiet Strength” with Tony Tony told the publishers that either Nathan writes the book or there’s no book Nathan still has a lot of self-doubt during every project Billy Donovan is someone he would like to write for and he would also like to get out sports Words of Wisdom from Nathan Whitaker attributed to former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Chuck Knoll: “Stubbornness is a virtue if you’re right.” “Leaving the game plan is a sign of panic and panic is not in our game plan.” “Champions are Champions not because they do the extraordinary things but because they do the ordinary things better than anybody else.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Nathan Whitaker on Twitter: @NathanWhitaker To Follow Nathan Whitaker on Instagram: @nwhitbooks To Learn more information about Nathan Whitaker: Nathan Whitaker Featured Image Photo Credit: Nathan Whitaker

Episode 97: Matt Stover | 19-year NFL Veteran Kicker & 2x Super Bowl Champion Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Matt Stover Co-founded the Player’s Philanthropy Fund which that enables athletes, entertainers and other philanthropists to create a dedicated fund that can accept tax-deductible contributions in support of any qualified charitable mission Has always been a hard worker even with somewhat of a privileged childhood Never wanted to have any regrets in life and Jeremiah [21:11] has been an impactful verse in his life In 1992, he suffered a herniated disk but continued to kick until he finally gave everything to God and his career took off in 1993 Would help the Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV Has always believed that the NFL was a quick start to life but not a means to an end Was more intimidated at home games when everything was very quiet and he could hear other players talking directly to him He would practice pressure kicks in practice and ask teammates to make it very hard for him to concentrate and Tony Siragusa dropped his pants in front him during one practice He doesn’t miss the mental grind of the game these days Realized that his purpose was bigger than just being a kick during Super Bowl XLIV vs the New Orleans Saints when he missed the last kick of his career and still pointed up to God giving him praise which led to people talking about God Words of Wisdom from Matt Stover: “God loves you no matter what and his grace is sufficient which gives you freedom.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Player’s Philanthropy Fund on Instagram: @playersphilanthropyfund To Find out more information about Player’s Philanthropy Fund: Player’s Philanthropy Fund Featured Image Photo Credit: Dew Point Media

Episode 96: Steak Shapiro | Atlanta’s Longest Running Sports Talk Radio Host Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Steak Shapiro Has learned that people are passionate and emotional about food and sports Friends are amazed that he has been talking the same smack for over 40 years and is getting paid for it Grew up in Boston and lived and breathed the local sports teams even though his family was not a big sports family Knew early on as a child that he wanted to be in sports talk radio and convinced a local station to let him be on the air at 13-years old Attended Tulane University and eventually secured a job in Atlanta, however, he was fired shortly after moving to Atlanta Secured an investment of $1 million dollars to start his own radio station at the age of 29-years old and would eventually sell 790 The Zone 17 years later Has always been fascinated with food and decided to start Atlanta Eats to showcase local restaurants in Atlanta and ultimately founded another company Bread n Butter Content Studio Alabama winning the SEC Championship with Jalen Hurts and Atlanta United galvanizing the city of Atlanta are two great sports stories Words of Wisdom from Steak Shapiro: “Be in the moment without focusing on the next thing and work hard.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Steak Shapiro on Twitter: @steakshapiro To Follow Steak Shapiro on Instagram: @steakshapiro To Find out more information about Atlanta Eats: Atlanta Eats To Find out more information about Bread n Butter Content: Bread n Butter Featured Image Photo Credit: Atlanta Eats

Episode 95: Sean Foley | PGA Golf Coach and Instructor Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Sean Foley Biggest mantra when coaching is very similar to a physician, “do no harm” Coaching is also like being a tailor as you have to tailor to the specific person rather than a cookie cutter approach Golf is the best microcosm of life because it’s just you and golf parallels life Pressure comes from within and we’re all just fighting that other person in our own head The defining moment for him for coaching was when he started coaching Stephen Ames Has now been coaching Justin Rose for 10-years Biggest thing learned from coaching Tiger Woods is just the simple fact that he played at such a high level for such a long time Favorite music is hip-hop where street poetry is infused over jazz beats Words of Wisdom from Sean Foley: “Be a Pro.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Find out more information about Foley Performance Academy: Eagles Dream To Find out more information about Revolution Golf: Revolution Golf Featured Image Photo Credit: Golf Channel

Episode 94: Debbie Antonelli | College Basketball and WNBA Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Debbie Antonelli Doesn’t feel that she’s worked a day in her life even after 31-years of calling basketball games Parents reinforced that they could never quit as a kid Boy’s little league baseball was her first team that she was on in High Park, NY Moved to Cary, NC in middle school and realized that she loved basketball watching NC State games and the fact that she could get a scholarship Still believes that Cheryl Miller was one of the best players in women’s basketball and would be a household in the WNBA today Lives by three power words, “Build, Serve, Empower” Broadcasting was never something that she ever thought about as a career, she wanted to be an athletic director She’s never had an agent but has a great husband and three boys that complete “Team Antonelli” which allows her to continue doing what she loves An advocate of Clemson L.I.F.E. program as one of her sons has Down’s Syndrome and is a student at Clemson through this program Words of Wisdom from Debbie Antonelli: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” “You really don’t know anything about somebody until you walk a mile in their shoes.” “I’m not trying to prove anything, I’m trying to improve.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Debbie Antonelli on Twitter: @debbieantonelli To Find out more information about Debbie: Debbie Antonelli To Find out more information about Clemson LIFE: Clemson LIFE Featured Image Photo Credit: Mic Smith/AP

Episode 93: Tajh Boyd | Former Clemson University All-American Quarterback Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Tajh Boyd Biggest thing for a QB is to get into a rhythm and throughout his career, he always needed to take a hit to calm his nerves He’s been playing football since he was 7-years old but at first didn’t like football His dad was always pushing him as a QB and got him a book by Donovan McNabb and Jeff Trickey’s QB video So many athletes come from his hometown area of Hampton, VA like Bruce Smith, Ronald Curry, Alonzo Mourning, Cam Chancellor, Allen Iverson, DeAngelo Hall Feels that he was always willing to put in the work to be a better QB because he didn’t feel that he was as talented as others First offer was from Boston College but his last visit was to Clemson and it felt like home even though he told Ohio St. that he was going to play for the Buckeyes He feels that the true pivotal moment in Clemson football recently was the embarrassing loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl 70-33 Transition from playing football to life without playing the game that he fell in love with has been a very tough challenge and one that he continues to go through Words of Wisdom from Tajh Boyd: “If you’re not healthy you can’t help anyone else.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Tajh Boyd on Twitter: @TajhB10 To Follow Deebo Samuel on Instagram: @tajhboyd10 Featured Image Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America

Episode 92: Deebo Samuel | South Carolina All-SEC All-Purpose Player & WR Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Deebo Samuel Always dreamed of playing football on TV and fell in love with the Garnet and Black of South Carolina at an early age Basketball was his first love but things began to excel for him on the football in the 11th grade Committed to South Carolina during a recruiting visit but waited several days before he told his mom The university helped him grow and mature as a man and will forever will grateful for his time there It was a tough decision not to play in the Belk Bowl but after talking with his parents and Coach Muschamp, all agree that it is in his best interest to prepare for the NFL Draft Words of Wisdom from Deebo Samuel: “Never stop doing what you put your mind to anything is possible.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Deebo Samuel on Twitter: @Uno_Captain To Follow Deebo Samuel on Instagram: @uno_captain Featured Image Photo Credit: WDEF

Episode 91: Morgan Cox | Baltimore Ravens Two-Time Pro-Bowl Long Snapper Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Morgan Cox Still amazed that it has been 9-years that he’s been playing in the NFL especially knowing that he never truly thought that it was a realistic goal Grew up in a sports household and starting in the 5th grade he got the long snapping job on his team because no one else really wanted to do it or had any experience Long snapping is like a golf swing as it’s individualized to each person Remembers telling a friend that he would get a tattoo if he ever won the Super Bowl and although he did win a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2013 he still hasn’t gotten that tattoo Grew up a Tennessee Vols fan and his parents still have the message from Coach Wade at Tennessee offering him the opportunity to walk-on at Tennessee Loudest game in college was the SEC Championship against LSU The Senior Bowl was his tryout for all the NFL teams and he liked Jerry Rosburg with the Baltimore Ravens and Coach Rosburg extended the offer for Morgan to attend their camp Has a unique bond with punter Sam Koch and kicker Justin Kicker and Justin has described the trio as the “Wolfpack” He battled through 2 different ACL tears to earn a spot on the Pro-Bowl in 2015 and 2016 His wife Lauren is an actress and makes sure to let him know that acting or singing is not something he should pursue after football Words of Wisdom from Morgan Cox: “Pursue what you’re passionate about.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Morgan Cox on Twitter: @morgancox46 To Follow Morgan Cox on Instagram: @morgancox46 Featured Image Photo Credit: nflplayerengagement.com | Jim Gehman, Player Engagement Insider

Episode 90: Scott Shapiro | Vice President, Fox Sports Radio Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Scott Shapiro Still feels amazing to be in Los Angeles working in radio even though it took a leap of faith moving from the east coast with a pregnant wife The promise of the opportunity with Fox Sports Radio of working with the brand and the people has been even more than he could have imagined Grew up in Minneapolis and loves all Minnesota teams even though they seem to always disappoint Knew early on that he wanted to be on the business side of things within radio Attended Emory University in Atlanta and eventually took a job with ESPN for a short period of time before moving back to Atlanta to work at 790 The Zone Never thought that he would leave Atlanta but ESPN came calling and he spent almost 9-years in Bristol, CT Most memorable moment for him was in 2008 after a celebrity softball game in Washington, DC with “Mike & Mike” and being able to meet President Bush while Kenny Chesney played a private concert The drama of sports and the intimacy of radio is why so many people still gravitate towards sports talk radio Words of Wisdom from Scott Shapiro: “Give it a shot and always keep things in perspective.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Scott Shapiro on Twitter: @scottshapiro33 Featured Image Photo Credit: Scott Shapiro

Episode 89: LaChina Robinson | Women’s Basketball Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: LaChina Robinson Stories and storytelling have always intrigued her and it’s one of the reasons that she was led to media Hard to believe that it’s been 1o years she started in sportscasting Mentors in her career even if they didn’t know that they were mentors include: Carolyn Peck, Bernadette (Bernie) McGlade and Robin Roberts has always been an inspiration Has always loved watching sports and remembers as a kid watching all sports even figure skating and golf Her connection to sports was always the competitiveness as she’s always been a competitive person Growing up was tough at times because at the age of 14 she was 6’4″ and she never felt that she “fit in” which caused her to have low self-esteem After being pushed into basketball, she would play at Wake Forest University under head coach Charlene Curtis Worked within the Georgia Tech women’s basketball program before she started helping with being a color analyst and immediately fell in love with it Never really pursued coaching because there was always this feeling of being only responsible for herself and having some freedoms in a sense Lives2Inspire is her Instagram handle and her motto which reminds her every day of her purpose Words of Wisdom from LaChina Robinson: “Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb because there’s where the fruit is.” “Stand for something or fall for anything.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow LaChina Robinson on Twitter: @LaChinaRobinson To Follow LaChina Robinson on Instagram: @lives2inspire To Find out more information about LaChina Robinson: LaChina Robinson Featured Image Photo Credit: LaChina Robinson | Instagram

Episode 88: John O’Donnell | Johnnie-O Clothing Brand Founder Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: John O’Donnell Grew up in the midwest with 6 brothers and sisters and still misses the midwest but has fully embraced the California lifestyle Introduced to golf at an early age and realized that golf was an avenue for him to compete Fell in love with UCLA as a kid after his family moved to California for a couple of years Walked-on the UCLA golf team and would move back to the midwest to start a career in tv/radio ad sales Eventually worked with the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox before taking an opportunity in Los Angeles with the Golf Channel A good friend had a logo concept that John thought would be a great idea as the logo for a preppy west coast clothing brand Never wanted to call the brand Johnnie-O but family and friends convinced him that the name was a natural fit and the iconic logo with the surfer dude and paddleboard made the brand complete John is still amazed that the company now has 60 employees and the brand is carried in over 1,200 shops but he doesn’t forget the early days of trunk shows in living rooms Staying humble in sports has carried over into the development of Johnnie-O and he continues to learn more about the fashion industry and business each day Words of Wisdom from John O’Donnell: “Give it a shot and always keep things in perspective.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Johnnie-O on Twitter: @johnnieO To Follow Johnnie-O on Instagram: @johnnieobrand To Purchase Johnnie-O clothing: Johnnie-O Featured Image Photo Credit: Johnnie-O | Instagram

Episode 87: Michael T. Pinkey | Combine Performance Founder & Performance Specialist Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Michael T. Pinkey Has always been a creative thinker and enjoys building things Challenging childhood with an absentee father early in his life and didn’t have a whole lot growing up Saved up enough money to buy a ticket to Japan with a return flight from England and backed a backpack and left and that trip changed his life Began his journey as a golf instructor and golf coach but always felt that his clients were still missing something After spending time at IMG Academy he started to see that there was more that could be dedicated to instruction from the performance side Founded Combine Golf initially but decided to focus more on the mental side of performance and changed the name to Combine Performance Combine Performance doesn’t focus on the traditional cookie-cutter methodology of training but rather focuses solely on the individual and their mental state for each session Words of Wisdom from Michael T. Pinkey: “To always search out what the day means to you.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Combine Performance on Twitter: @CombineGolf To Follow Combine Performance on Instagram: @combineperformance To Learn More Information about Combine Performance: Combine Performance Featured Image Photo Credit: Richmond Weaver | Rich Take On Sports

Episode 86: Bob Harig | ESPN Senior Golf Writer Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bob Harig Doesn’t have much of an off-season because golf really doesn’t have a long enough break between seasons Bob believes that golf needs a longer break to help build anticipation for a new season He fell in love first before journalism and after becoming a caddy as a kid he started to find a passion for golf Eventually became a caddy at Inverness Golf Club and would earn the Evans Scholarship given annually to a designated caddy which he used at Indiana University Bob feels that the movie Caddyshack embodies the true spirit of all caddies While at Indiana he knew he wanted to be in print journalism and was fortunate to get a job with the St. Petersburg Times covering all sports Today, anyone looking at a career in journalism needs to be well versed in all platforms instead of focusing on one entity The key for Bob to gain trust from players on the PGA Tour has been to be present and in-person Magical moments covering the game include the 2008 US Open with Tiger Woods winning in a playoff vs Rocco Mediate, Tigers’ first major win in 1997 at The Master’s and Phil Mickelson’s major win in 2013 at The Open Words of Wisdom from Bob Harig: “Appreciate what you’re doing and look at it for what it is.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Bob Harig on Twitter: @BobHarig Featured Image Photo Credit: ESPN Media Zone

Episode 85: William McGirt | PGA Tour Pro Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: William McGirt Has always had this unique ability to remember every shot he’s hit Baseball was his first passion even though he started playing golf at an early age Stopped playing golf at 8-years old and remembers starting to play golf again on his 15th birthday after his grandfather asked him if he wanted to play He would soon be able to beat his grandfather and all of his friends Attended Wofford College with coach Dan O’Connell Didn’t turn pro until 2004 even though he finished college in 2001 Finally earned his PGA Tour card in 2010 and would win his first tournament (The Memorial Tournament) in 2016 Well-documented story of Tiger Woods telling William that he was an idiot after Tiger heard William didn’t look at the leaderboard during tournaments He fell in love with the challenge of always trying to improve and knowing that no one has ever mastered the game of golf Will miss the upcoming 2018-2019 PGA Tour season due to hip surgery He believes that there are so many similarities in golf and life and that you can apply many principles to each other Words of Wisdom from William McGirt: “When you’re not practicing someone else is.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow William McGirt on Twitter: @WilliamMcGirt To Follow William McGirt on Instagram: @wmcgirt To Follow William McGirt on Facebook: William McGirt Golf To Learn More Information About William McGirt: William McGirt Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images

Episode 84: Mark Packer | SiriusXM & ESPNU Radio Sports Talk Host Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Mark Packer His career in radio doesn’t feel like work and Mark doesn’t view it that he talks on the radio as he values listening more than anything The people he’s met, the places that he’s visited, and the relationships that he’s developed are what is so special There was some pressure being the son of Billy Packer one of the most well-known college basketball color analysts but it was never truly negative Would get to travel with his dad to one game each year but the most memorable was the game with Indiana at North Carolina and the night before the game during dinner with Dean Smith, Al McGuire, and a young broadcaster at the time Bob Costas Decided to attend Clemson University after visiting the campus to watch Clemson play North Carolina in football and would be a student as Clemson would win it’s first National Championship in 1981 Never had any intentions of being on the radio even though he had been involved with tv and radio His show on WFNZ 610 The Fan “PrimeTime with the Packman” aired from 1997-2010 and would become the most listened-to sports talk show in the Carolinas Very hard for him to pinpoint a favorite interview but some memorable moments include James Brown and his band singing on set, President Jimmy Carter calling into his show to talk about the Atlanta Braves and having Kenny Chesney in studio talking about the Tennessee Vols Words of Wisdom from Mark Packer: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”  Henry Ford “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”  Will Rogers Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Mark Packer on Twitter: @MarkPacker Featured Image Photo Credit: Mark Packer via Twitter

Episode 83: Austin Ernst | LPGA Tour Pro & NCAA Champion Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Austin Ernst Loves college football and picked LSU over Georgia and Alabama to play golf at because Clemson did not have a team at the time Won the NCAA Individual Championship as a freshman while carding her first ever hole-in-one She grew up around the game as her brother Drew played junior golf and her dad Mark is a golf pro at Cross Creek Plantation in Seneca, SC One of her favorite memories growing up is getting autographs at the Masters which made her realize how she wanted to play golf when she grew up Her competitive spirit and love for the game of golf helped fuel her drive and she always wants to compete for something while playing Becoming an NCAA Champion gave her the confidence that she could play on the LPGA Tour and hearing words of encouragement from Melissa Reid and Anna Nordqvist increased that confidence Her brother became her caddie during her rookie year on the LPGA Tour One of her passions is to use her platform for bigger things and has started a charity golf event to help raise money for Safe Harbor which provides services for victims of domestic violence Words of Wisdom from Austin Ernst: “Do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Romans 12:2 Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Austin Ernst on Twitter: @AustinErnst92 To Follow Austin Ernst on Instagram: @austinernst92 Featured Image Photo Credit: Thomas J. Russo | USA TODAY Sports

Episode 82: Bruce Gradkowski | 11-Year NFL Veteran Quarterback Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bruce Gradkowski Juggling many things in life right now with podcasting, broadcasting, being an entrepreneur, and husband and father to 3 kids Decided to retire after sitting in meetings and felt the desire to play wasn’t there once you start factoring in injuries and business opportunities were starting to materialize Always enjoyed broadcasting and is enjoying being on 93.7 The Fan and NFL Radio on SiriusXM Grew up a Dan Marino fan but was a Penn State football fan instead of Pittsburgh Panthers Was never recruited by Pittsburgh and the University of Toledo just felt like home even though he had committed to Eastern Kentucky He was also offered to play basketball at the University of Richmond by John Beilein One of his favorite memories at Toledo was a sophomore when Toledo beat Pittsburgh 35-31 Watching his younger brother Gino Gradkowski have success in college and make it to the NFL has been a big thrill in his life especially seeing him win a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens because his brother feels that Bruce impacted his life Misses the locker room and the camaraderie from teammates now that he’s retired Believes that Ben Roethlisberger is the best QB that he’s been around but possibly the best QB that we’ll see if Aaron Rodgers Words of Wisdom from Bruce Gradkowski: “Pursue what you’re passionate about.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Bruce Gradkowski on Twitter: @bgradkowski5 To Follow Bruce Gradkowski on Instagram: @bgrad05 To Learn More About Bruce Gradkowski: Bruce Gradkowski Featured Image Photo Credit: Gradkowski’s

Episode 81: Stewart Cink | PGA Tour Pro and 2009 “The Open” ChampionRich Spotlight: Stewart CinkGreat honor to be named to Alabama Sports Hall of Fame even though he never set out to have that as a goalFirst memories of sports was actually seeing pictures of himself as a toddler with a golf clubLoved playing soccer but his passion was golf once he was old enough to play at the municipal course in his hometownThree school choices for playing golf in college were Stanford, Auburn, and Georgia Tech but felt that Georgia Tech was the best fit for himLife changing event for him occurred as a Sophomore at Georgia Tech when he found out that he would be a fatherHe and Lisa got married and his golf game rose to new levels due to the intense focus on time management of being a husband, father, student, and golf athleteTurned pro in 1995 and for his very first pro event he missed his flight to the eventBecame a PGA Tour professional in 1997 winning Rookie of the YearDefeated Tom Watson in 2009 The Open Championship to become a Major Champion but almost didn’t make it to the first hole of the playoff because of a minor accident in a golf cart carrying him to the playoff holeWords of Wisdom from Stewart Cink: “Don’t wait for the opportunity to do something when you’ve got the opportunity now.”Social Media:To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaverTo Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsportsTo Follow Stewart Cink on Twitter: @stewartcinkTo Follow Cink It Challenge on Twitter: @cinkitchallengeTo Learn More About Cink It Challenge: Cink It ChallengeFeatured Image Photo Credit: Steven Flynn-USA TODAY Sports and CBS Sports

Episode 80: Jim Abbott | 10-Year MLB Veteran Pitcher Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Jim Abbott Continues to workout but focuses more on cardio than weights and feels that he should have focused more on flexibility during his playing days One of the biggest challenges of being a starting pitcher is maintaining positivity after a bad performance because you have to wait until you get to play again Seemed to be friends with the guys in the clubhouse who were pranksters like Robin Ventura Growing up in Flint, MI sports was a big part of the community and he wanted to be involved but often times felt lonely due to his disability of being born without a right hand Could always throw things but even as a major league pitcher he had self-doubt of his ability Some of the toughest hitters he faced were George Brett, Edgar Martinez, and Dave Henderson Game before September 4, 1993 was a very poor performance so for this game vs. the Indians Jim didn’t have any expectations and it wasn’t until almost the 7th inning that he realized he was working on a no-hitter The no-hitter was one of the most special days in his life and wishes that everyone could experience the electricity of NYC after a special sporting moment Loves watching sports, loves the competition of sports and how it’s a window into someone’s life Words of Wisdom from Jim Abbott: “Just embrace it and don’t take things for granted.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Find Out More Information About Jim Abbott: Jim Abbott Jim Abbott’s Autobiography: Imperfect: An Improbable Life Featured Image Photo Credit: WBUR

Episode 79: C.J. Spiller | NFL Veteran and Former Clemson All-American Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: C.J. Spiller Not officially retired at this point from the NFL but even he was retired he will continue to stay in shape and workout Tough not being a training camp because that is such a normal feeling for him Faith has been a big part of his life thanks to his grandparents and especially his grandmother Grew up a Warrick Dunn and FSU fan while his and grandmother was a Fred Taylor and Florida fan Alabama never offered him a scholarship and he feels that it’s so ironic now that there is such a battle between Clemson and Alabama Tough decision to choose Clemson but he always felt comfortable with that decision because he knew it was his decision Biggest moment for him at Clemson was the first touchdown he scored in college against Boston College Even though he never adjusted to the cold weather in Buffalo, he still considers Buffalo one of his favorite places because it reminded him of his hometown and Clemson because of the community love Transitioning to the NFL is tough for many players because so much is on you personally with not much oversight from coaches Coaching football is something that he’s considering as his next chapter once he officially retires Grew up in a small-town and sports was really all you had and sports teaches you about life where you find out who you are as a person Words of Wisdom from C.J. Spiller: “Just be who you are and focus on giving back.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow C.J. Spiller on Twitter: CJSPILLER To Follow C.J. Spiller on Instagram: cjspiller28 Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images | Bill Frakes

Episode 78: Matt Schick | ESPN College Sports Studio Host Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Matt Schick Doesn’t really have much of a downtime compared to seasons that we see in sports Initially thought he wanted to do play-by-play when he realized he had a passion for sports journalism while watching some of the legends on ESPN like Dan Patrick, Chris Berman, Kenny Mayne Remembers vividly filming mock news shows for his parents growing up and it was through several moves in his childhood that allowed him to push himself out of his comfort zone and try new things Attended the University of Colorado becoming actively involved with Campus Ministry and Campus Crusade for Christ First job after graduating was in Kearny, Nebraska before moving to Omaha doing TV and radio Dari Nowkhah has helped him tremendously and has become a good friend after Dari let him know about an opening with ESPN at the ESPNU studios in Charlotte, NC The irony of being in sports journalism is that you become less of a fan and at times he does miss that Sports allowed him a pathway to pursue a job and career that he thoroughly loves Words of Wisdom from Matt Schick: “Don’t be someone you’re not.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Matt Schick on Twitter: ESPN_Schick To Follow Matt Schick on Instagram: matt_schick Featured Image Photo Credit: ESPN

Episode 77: Trevor Knight | Former Oklahoma and Texas A&M Quarterback Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Trevor Knight Continues to get asked about Katy Perry calling him out on ESPN College Gameday Sports has always been a part of his life with him and his twin brother Connor Parents had to have their birth certificates during games early in their childhood to prove their age because they were so much bigger than other kids Grew up a huge Texas Longhorn fan and would attend games wearing a Colt McCoy jersey telling people he was Colt’s younger brother Originally committed to Texas A&M but changed that commitment to Oklahoma after visiting OU with his brother Earned the starting QB position his redshirt freshman year and would eventually be named Sugar Bowl Most Outstanding Player after beating Alabama Lost the starting position to Baker Mayfield and decided to transfer to Texas A&M after he received his degree in December 2015 Hardest hit he received was from Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley during the Sugar Bowl while a hit from Shawn Oakman at Baylor did require him to be carted off the field It was a tough decision to transfer to Texas A&M and looking back on it, he was terrified of transferring Facing adversity and understanding how to pick yourself up from that adversity are life lessons that he’s learned through sports and just be competitive Exploring multiple options currently while finishing up his graduate degree from Texas A&M and broadcasting is something that he’s interested in Words of Wisdom from Trevor Knight: “Somebody’s always watching.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Trevor Knight on Twitter: @trevor_knight9 To Follow Trevor Knight on Instagram: @trevor_knight9 Featured Image Photo Credit: goodbullhunting.com

Episode 76: Chad Wilson | Gridiron Studs Founder & Former Miami Defensive Back Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Chad Wilson Grew up in New York and also a portion of his early childhood in Trinidad Soccer was his first sport which eventually would help him develop footwork for playing football After moving to Florida, football became a passion after seeing guys wearing jerseys at school on game days and girls seemed to gravitate towards those guys Moved to California to be with his dad in high school and would have to play on the JV football team during his Junior year before moving to varsity Signed to play with Long Beach St. University to play under legendary coach Georg Allen Became part of the “U” fraternity in 1992 after he transferred to the University of Miami when the football program at Long Beach St. was disbanded Regrets not pursuing other NFL opportunities instead of focusing on the opportunity with Dennis Erickson and the Seattle Seahawks because he didn’t push himself out of his comfort zone While coaching high school football, he started helping players with video highlights to be used for sending to coaches and thus the idea of Gridiron Studs was born Gridiron Studs is now available as an app allowing players to connect with coaches for exposure Sports helped develop structure, organization, and has applied so many things from sports and the game of football into his life Words of Wisdom from Chad Wilson: “Don’t be ordinary and nobody owes you anything.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Chad Wilson on Twitter: @GridironStuds To Follow Chad Wilson on Instagram: @gridironstuds To Learn More Information about Gridiron Studs: Gridiron Studs Featured Image Photo Credit: Chad Wilson

Episode 75: David Cone | Filmmaker, Musician &  Former University of Michigan QB Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: David Cone Has always loved participating regardless of what it is but football was his first passion Wants to compete against the best and that’s why he wanted to attend Statesboro High School instead of the private school in Statesboro, GA Helped Statesboro High win the Georgia state football championship his senior season after coming up short previous years Signed with the University of Michigan with head coach Lloyd Carr and decided to stay at the school even though he knew he wouldn’t get a chance to start once new head coach Rich Rodriguez was hired Ohio St./Michigan rivalry is unlike any other and there’s a deep hatred but it’s centered on respect Music has always been a big part of his life and he taught himself how to play the guitar watching YouTube videos Creating films and telling stories is another passion and after winning a film festival contest and getting a scholarship for film school in Atlanta he knew he wanted to pursue film directing Released first single “So Close” in December 2017 and first album “Welcome Home” in February 2018 Sports helped develop and establish discipline in his life as well as understanding the importance of delayed gratification Words of Wisdom from David Cone: “What you want in life can be out there but it takes a level of work and discipline that’s unknown to mankind and that gets rewarded on the backend.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow David Cone on Twitter: @davidadamcone To Follow David Cone on Instagram: @davidadamcone To Learn More Information about David Cone Music: David Cone Music Featured Image Photo Credit: David Cone

Episode 74: Dan Orlovsky | 12-year NFL Veteran QB & ESPN Football Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dan Orlovsky Has played sports his whole life and remembers his dad telling him that he would play on Sunday’s one day UConn was a team that stayed committed to recruiting him throughout high school and decided to attend there to do something that people didn’t think could be done Very difficult challenge of moving UConn football team from Division I-AA to Division I and the Big East Conference Turning point for success at UConn was after Freshman year and the big moment was eventually beating Iowa St Life of an NFL back-up QB is very tough at times because you do everything the same as the starting QB throughout the week but you don’t get to play on Sunday The challenge is how to prove your worth on a 53-man roster when you don’t get to play on Sunday Decided to retire because the love of the grind was gone Mentors in his career have been Jon Kitna, Josh McCown, Mike Furrey, Dave Wilson and Matt Schaub Doesn’t know where he would be without sports and specifically football and not only from the financial perspective Football helped challenge him not only physically but also mentally as you push yourself in competition TV broadcasting is his next career goal and signed with ESPN as a football analyst joining the network for college football broadcasting and providing a role as an NFL analyst Words of Wisdom from Dan Orlovsky: “How you do anything is how you do everything.” from coach Randy Edsall Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Dan Orlovsky on Twitter: @danorlovsky7 To Follow Dan Orvlovsky on Instagram: @dorlovsky Featured Image Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller | Getty Images

Episode 73: Jon Rothstein | CBS Sports College Basketball Insider Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Jon Rothstein Stay Hungry, Stay Humble quote comes from an NBA coach he heard say at a press conference referring to a player’s potential Has always been a sports junkie and remembers vividly when Christian Laettner and Duke beat UNLV and knew then he wanted a career in sports Has always been an avid reader as a son of school teachers and eventually was able to have an article published in a local Gannett paper in high school Attended Ithaca College and graduated in 3 years Won the “Dream Job” contest in 2004 for ESPN Radio in NYC and thus began his career in sports media Spent six years in sports talk radio before being offered a job with the MSG Network covering college basketball Some of his most memorable interviews have been with Bobby Knight and with John Calipari during Kentucky’s National Championship season as well as Tommy Amaker now head coach at Harvard Words of Wisdom from Jon Rothstein: “We never cross a goal line. We don’t arrive in life, we’re always becoming.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Jon Rothstein on Twitter: @JonRothstein To Subscribe to College Hoops Today podcast: College Hoops Today Podcast To Learn more about FanRag Sports:  FanRag Sports Featured Image Photo Credit: CBS Sports

Episode 72: Amy Lawrence | CBS Sports Radio “After Hours” Host Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Amy Lawrence She’s always been a night owl and fell in love with sports at an early age where she played all sports Loves sports because of the teamwork and she’s very competitive Has fond memories of following Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics listening to Johnny Most and Glenn Ordway on the radio Told people that she wanted to be the female version of Johnny Most Graduated from Messiah College and received her Master’s from Syracuse University Best advice she received in the industry is from Bob Barry, “You haven’t made it in this business until you’ve been fired twice.” Faith has always been a big part of her life since she was 6 years old Mission trips have been very impactful for her and they make you realize how blessed we are in America A highlight in her sports career was as a host of Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and breaking the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed She’s so thankful for sports she learned lessons about cooperation, teamwork, and communication Words of Wisdom from Amy Lawrence: “Figure out what you’re good at and turn it into your job.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Amy Lawrence on Twitter: @ALawRadio To Follow After Hours on Twitter: @AfterHoursCBS To Learn more about Amy and After Hours: After Hours Featured Image Photo Credit: CBS Sports Radio

Episode 71: Rachel Baribeau | ESPNU Radio Host & Changing the Narrative Founder Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Rachel Baribeau Rachel comes from a sports family and as far as she can remember sports was always on the TV Her brothers were into all types of sports and jokingly she feels her claim to fame is church volleyball Originally she thought that she wanted to be a general assignment reporter Attended Auburn University and was immediately hooked on sports reporting after interviewing Auburn baseball head coach as a student A pivotal decision in her career was to be a freelance reporter for sports rather than take a general reporter in TV Managed a hair salon early in her career as she was still working for free for local sports radio Has focused on creating her own narrative rather than having someone else shape her narrative Founded Changing the Narrative simply known as #changingthenarrative to empower athletes to create their own narrative for good Loves sports because of the human element within sports and the personal stories Words of Wisdom from Rachel Baribeau: “Put people first, find your sweet spot and you’ll never go wrong.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rachel Baribeau on Twitter: @RachelBaribeau To Follow Rachel Baribeau on Instagram: @rachelbaribeau To Learn More Information about Rachel Baribeau: Rachel Baribeau To Learn More Information about Changing the Narrative: Changing the Narrative Featured Image Photo Credit: Rachel Baribeau

Episode 70: Vic Beasley Jr. | Atlanta Falcons All-Pro Defensive End Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Vic Beasley Jr. Vic jokingly would love to have free items from Home Depot included in future contracts with the Atlanta Falcons but doesn’t think Arthur Blank would be willing Very surreal for him when he thinks about playing for the Atlanta Falcons the team he grew up loving as a kid in Adairsville, GA Fondly remembers former Falcons’ greats like Jamal Anderson, Chris Chandler, and his favorite was Michael Vick Still loves playing basketball but had to make the hard decision in high school to focus solely on football Another hard decision was selecting Clemson over Alabama to play collegiately but Clemson felt like home with head coach Dabo Swinney Playing in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots was everything he thought it would be but the loss will always haunt him even if he gets a chance to win a Super Bowl Faith has been a cornerstone of his life and was instrumental in helping him deal with the deaths of his dad, brother, and uncle Training with Tony Villani, a Clemson grad and owner of XPE Sports, was a tremendous experience as it helped prepare him for the NFL Combine He and Grady Jarrett never dreamed about the possibility of playing for the same team in the NFL because it didn’t seem remotely possible but he knew that the Falcons got a steal when they selected Grady in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL Draft Competition within in sports is what drives and motivates Vic and one of the reasons why sports has played such a big part in his life Words of Wisdom from Vic Beasley Jr.: “I CAN ACCEPT FAILURE, EVERYONE FAILS AT SOMETHING. BUT I CAN’T ACCEPT NOT TRYING.” – Michael Jordan Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Vic Beasley Jr. on Twitter: @VicBeasley3 To Follow Vic Beasley Jr. on Instagram: @vicbeasley3 To Learn More Information about Vic Beasley Jr. Vic Beasley Jr Featured Image Photo Credit: Jason Getz | USA TODAY Sports

Episode 69: Rhein Gibson | PGA and Web.com Tour Pro Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Rhein Gibson Sports has always been a part of his life growing up in Australia with 2 brothers Fell in love with Golf because it was a sport he could play on his own and didn’t need a team of people to play Became intrigued with American colleges because of a neighborhood friend was playing golf at the University of Colorado After using a scouting service, he decided to attend Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, OK Transition to America was tough as an 18-year old due to cultural changes but eventually would love his time at Oklahoma Christian University Would turn pro and travel extensively trying to earn his PGA Tour Card Life as a professional golfer is almost like a gambler where you are betting on yourself each week and many weeks the expenses are more than what you earn A special memory for Rhein was being paired with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth in the British Open In 2012, he would earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records by scoring a 55 which is the lowest score ever recorded Words of Wisdom from Rhein Gibson: “Keyword not only on the tour but also in life is perseverance.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rhein Gibson on Twitter: @RheinGibson55 To Follow Rhein Gibson on Instagram: @rheingibson Featured Image Photo Credit: Rhein Gibson

Episode 68: Travis Blanks | Former Clemson All-ACC Defensive Back Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Travis Blanks Travis has remained in Clemson, SC now working with the Block C Club because Clemson feels like home Grew up in Fort Myers, FL before moving to Tallahassee, FL and played on the same Pop Warner football team with Sammy Watkins Football and track were his two primary sports and was ranked 3rd in the state of Florida for the hurdles A pivotal moment in life was being able to attend North Florida Christian School He was not a fan of one particular NFL team, however, Sean Taylor was a player that he would strive to be like on the field As he looks back on his recruitment, it is sometimes surreal to think that coaches like Les Miles, Nick Saban, Jim Tressel, and Dabo Swinney were calling him Some of the toughest games at Clemson were against Notre Dame, Louisville and even NC State Would have been content with a loss to LSU in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl in 2012 because he knew they gave it everything they had Still thinks about the loss to Alabama in the national championship game because of breakdowns in the game but does not dwell on the loss Knows God has a plan for his life and has been able to move forward even though he wasn’t able to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL due to 2 ACL tears while at Clemson Believes that sports can help shape your perspective in life and so many traits can be instilled in each person from sports that are applicable in life Words of Wisdom from Travis Blanks: “Be the best version of you.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Travis Blanks on Instagram: @travandchan To Follow Travis Blanks on Facebook: @tblanks Featured Image Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale | USA TODAY Sports

Episode 67: Amin Elhassan | ESPN NBA Analyst and Front Office Insider Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Amin Elhassan Moved back to Sudan at 8-years old and remembers his first time starting to understand sports was watching his dad play in a soccer league Became a basketball fan through watching videos of NBA bloopers and Michael Jordan Returned to the US at 14-years old and eventually enrolled at Georgia Tech to become an engineer and escape the cold NY winters Simply choose Georgia Tech because it was in the south and Stephon Marbury and Kenny Anderson had made it there from NY Early on Amin was NY Knicks fan until he interned with Knicks and saw the dysfunction of the organization Worked for the Atlanta Hawks while at Georgia Tech and eventually transferred to Arizona State Eventually was hired by the Phoenix Suns and promoted to Assistant Director of Basketball Operations before leaving to be an NBA Analyst for ESPN Currently is on multiple shows at ESPN… The Jump, Sportsnation, Sportscenter and on ESPN radio with The Dan Le Batard Show The biggest change that he’s seen in the NBA is the advent of analytics and how certain teams understand how to use analytics properly Believes that Charles Barkley is the preeminent NBA Analyst right now He owes everything to sports Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Amin Elhassan on Twitter: @DarthAmin Featured Image Photo Credit: ESPN

Episode 66: Jon Gordon | Best-Selling Author and Leadership Consultant Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Jon Gordon Felt that he was meant to write the story of former Cornell University Lacrosse player George Boiardi outlined in the book, “The Hard Hat”, who was tragically killed during a lacrosse game Played multiple sports in high school focusing on basketball and football but eventually focused on lacrosse his senior season and was then recruited to play at Cornell Considered playing both football and lacrosse at Cornell but realized quickly that he might not get any playing time in either sport if he tried to play both Thought he wanted to be a politician but after losing the Atlanta City Council election he realized that his path would be different While many people know him as Mr. Positivity, he is by nature not a truly positive person and has to work daily to be positive The only time he has been star struck when speaking to sports teams and athletes was his first speaking opportunity with the Jacksonville Jaguars Grew up admiring the New York Yankees and players like Reggie Jackson, Graig Nettles, Thurman Munson He’s a big fan of Herschel Walker, who made a big impression on him after getting his autograph but was very disappointed when Tony Dorsett didn’t give him an autograph Hard for him to decide who is basketball’s greatest player of all-time and likes appreciating each great player from specific eras but if he has to pick he thinks LeBron James is the greatest Understands that God is control of his path and never imagined that his journey would be like his now Learned through sports to not let the opinions of others define you, not to let rejection define you but let it refine you Words of Wisdom from Jon Gordon: “Love. Serve. Care.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Jon Gordon on Twitter: @JonGordon11 To Follow Jon Gordon on Instagram: @jongordon11 To Follow Jon Gordon on Facebook: Jon Gordon To Learn More About Jon Gordon, His Books and Podcast: Jon Gordon Website Featured Image Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas | USA TODAY Sports

Episode 65: Brandon Boykin | NFL Veteran & Former UGA All-SEC Defensive Back Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Brandon Boykin Given the nickname Bam in high school by Cindy Morley after describing his play on the football field as a QB First memories of sports was playing tee ball and wanting to do well for his parents Always wanted to please his parents but would also help his older brother sneak out at times growing up Basketball is his true love regarding a specific sport Created a basketball highlight video that he sent to former University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt and was offered a scholarship to play football because of athleticism UGA coaches didn’t know where to play Brandon but knew they needed him on the field Former UGA Defensive Coordinator Willie Martinez had a huge impact on his football career by teaching him the fundamentals of playing defensive back First kick return for UGA he returned the kick 100-yards for a touchdown Had made the decision to go pro after his Junior season but a snowstorm caused him to be stranded in Athens and made him rethink his decision which he ultimately decided to return his Senior season Had to convince Mark Richt to allow him to play on offense his Senior season at UGA Suffered a broken leg at the 2012 Senior Bowl which caused his draft stock to fall from a 1st-round pick ultimately to being picked in the 4th-round by the Philadelphia Eagles Injuries have caused him to focus on the next chapter of his life after his playing days are over even though he is still pursuing a playing career in the NFL He’s very interested in pursuing a career in TV but doesn’t want to just be a former player transitioning into broadcasting Being in sports has allowed him to have a diverse mindset and see people for who they truly are rather than the color of their skin or their ethnicity His mom is probably the biggest motivating influence in his life because of the adversity that she’s been able to overcome Words of Wisdom from Brandon Boykin: “The journey is the reward.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Brandon Boykin on Twitter: @BrandonBoykin2 To Follow Brandon Boykin on Instagram: @brandonboykin To Follow Brandon Boykin on Facebook: Bam Boykin Featured Image Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas | USA TODAY Sports

Episode 64: Manteo Mitchell | Olympic Silver Medalist & World Champion Sprinter Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Manteo Mitchell Faith, Focus, Finish has become his life mantra as the inspiration came from 2 Timothy This mantra and running helped him push through depression Track and field was never a sport that he enjoyed Football was his first love and wanted to be an NFL player and was highly recruited until he suffered a broken arm during a kick return in high school Chose to attend Western Carolina University on a track scholarship after meeting coach Danny Williamson during a high school track meet held at Western Carolina Also chose Western Carolina over Clemson because of the music program at WCU Making the Olympic team during team trials is one of the hardest things in Track and Field to accomplish Being a track and field professional is completely different than so many other sports as you’re an independent contractor Never had any doubt that he would finish the race in the 2012 London Olympics after suffering a broken fibula halfway through the race because he knew 3 other teammates counted on him Will focus on the next chapter of his professional career after the 2020 Olympics and really enjoys broadcasting Sports has allowed him mentally to focus on taking negatives and turning them into positives while staying physically fit and having a better spiritual connection Loves sports because you get to be on a team with people that you may have never been able to meet Words of Wisdom from Manteo Mitchell: “Faith, Focus, Finish” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Manteo Mitchell on Twitter: @ManteoMitchell To Follow Manteo Mitchell on Instagram: @manteomitchell To Follow Manteo Mitchell on Facebook: Manteo Mitchell Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images | Icon Sportswire

Episode 63: Sam Acho | Chicago Bears Linebacker Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Sam Acho Became involved with being a podcast co-host after Willow Creek Church Pastor Steve Carter invited him to participate Loved the idea of “Relevant Is Doing A Sports Podcast” and knew he wanted to be involved Sam never had a sole dream of playing in the NFL because he never really believed it could become true First noticed as a football player after him and his brother Emmanuel attended a camp in Southern California although they didn’t know that it was an invite-only camp USC Head Coach Pete Carroll and assistant coach Ken Norton, Jr. quickly noticed him and would offer him a scholarship Attended the University of Texas with Head Coach Mack Brown because Texas never pressured him to commit and it was close to his hometown of Dallas, TX Still thinks that the National Championship game against Alabama would have been different if Colt McCoy wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the opening minutes of the game Thought he would play his whole career in Arizona after being drafted by the Cardinals in the 4th round of the 2011 NFL Draft A broken leg changed his path in Arizona and he would eventually sign with the Chicago Bears and then signed a two-year extension with the Bears in March 2018 Sam’s passionate about encouraging people and helping motivate people which is why he continues to pursue opportunities as a speaker Part of what he loves is also being on TV after he had his TV show in Arizona, “The Sam Acho Show” CTE is something that he does think about each day as he plays but he will continue to play until he doesn’t have the passion anymore He’s been involved with Living Hope Christian Ministries since he was 15-years old with mission trips and continues to give back with annual mission trips to help provide medical care in Nigeria Loves sports because you get to be on a team with people that you may have never been able to meet Words of Wisdom from Sam Acho: “Seek God whole-heartedly and you will find Him.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Sam Acho on Twitter: @TheSamAcho To Follow Sam Acho on Instagram: @thesamacho To Learn More Information About Sam Acho: Sam Acho To Learn More Information About Living Hope Ministries: <a href="http://www.livinghopeministries.us/" target="_blank"...

Episode 62: Kyle Parker | Former Colorado Rockies & Clemson All-ACC 2-Sport Athlete Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Kyle Parker Remembers meeting Dabo Swinney when Coach Swinney was the WR coach for Clemson Coach Swinney believed that Kyle could play both baseball and football at Clemson and convinced Clemson’s baseball coach Jack Leggett to give him an opportunity Enrolled early at Clemson in 2008 leaving high school in Jacksonville, FL and played baseball that spring for Clemson Started for Clemson as the QB during his redshirt Freshman year in 2009 Became the first person in Division I history to hit 20 home runs and throw 20 touchdowns in the same academic year Had to make the tough decision in 2010 to walk away from football after being drafted in the 1st round of the MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies Made his first appearance in the Majors in June 2014 First game in the Majors was facing Clayton Kershaw who ended up throwing a no-hitter Amazed by the talent of Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado Sports has allowed Kyle to meet so many good people and develop connections and relationships with a lot of life memories Words of Wisdom from Kyle Parker: “You can only control what you can control and don’t be embarrassed about the outcome but be embarrassed about the effort.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports Featured Image Photo Credit: Kyle Parker

Episode 61: Mark Schlereth | 3x Super Bowl Champion & Fox Sports NFL Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Mark Schlereth Grew up in Anchorage, AK and became known as “Stink” because of a story he told as a Rookie with the Washington Redskins which was supplanted after urinating in his uniform on the bench Only 2 schools to offer him a scholarship was the University of Idaho and the University of Hawaii Was almost forced to retire from football while playing at Idaho because of multiple injuries and surgeries 10th Round selection by the Washington Redskins in 1989 Former teammate at Idaho, Marvin Washington, was an integral part of his career in the NFL after Marvin would have Mark attend workouts for scouts with him Alex Gibbs at Denver convinced the Broncos to sign Mark even though he couldn’t pass the medical exam Would then win 2 Super Bowls with Denver and earn a Pro Bowl appearance in 1998 Mark also convinced Denver to sign Marvin Washington and the two would win a Super Bowl together Has always wanted to broadcast NFL games and so he decided to leave ESPN for Fox Sports with the opportunity to call NFL games More nervous to watch his son Daniel play baseball in the Majors than any time playing in his NFL career Words of Wisdom from Mark Schlereth: “My big thing as a parent and grandparent is to be involved, it’s quantity time, not quality time.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Mark Schlereth on Twitter: @markschlereth To Follow Mark Schlereth on Instagram: @markschlereth Featured Image Photo Credit: Fox Sports

Episode 60: Anthony Miller | Former All-American University of Memphis WR Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Anthony Miller Enjoying taking visits with NFL teams because it feels like being recruited even though he was never really recruited in high school and didn’t take any official visits Doesn’t matter where he gets drafted as he just excited for the opportunity to prove that he can play in the NFL First memory of sports is not a good memory as he ran the wrong way during his first football game as a kid Also ran track in high school running the 110-meter hurdles and long jump Grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan because his dad was a Cowboys fan Admired wide receivers like Steve Smith growing up and sees how other receivers like Nelson Agholor have been able to have success in the NFL even at a smaller size Signed a blank piece of paper on national signing day as a walk-on for Memphis because he was never offered a Division I scholarship Remembers his first TD in college against Cincinnati because he received an unsportsmanlike penalty for his TD celebration Has 7-8 tattoos and the most recent tattoo on his chest is a quote from his former WR coach David Johnson which reads “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane but by those who couldn’t hear the music” Sports has taught him the value of teamwork and facing failure Words of Wisdom from Anthony Miller: “There’s only one way to succeed in anything and that’s to give everything.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Anthony Miller on Twitter: @AnthonyMiller_3 To Follow Anthony Miller on Instagram: @a.mill3 Featured Image Photo Credit: University of Memphis Athletics

Episode 59: Tiffany Mitchell | Indiana Fever Guard & WNBA 2016 All-Rookie Team Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Tiffany Mitchell Finally feeling 100% healthy after recovering from torn knee cartilage Decided to explore sports because her brother would come home with trophies and she was jealous Initially played on all-boys basketball teams and then started playing on girls teams for AAU teams in Charlotte and then in Atlanta Raised by single mother and learned the value of hard work through watching her Dawn Staley was one of her idols growing up watching the Charlotte Sting After tearing her ACL in high school, South Carolina was still one of the main schools that still recruited her It was almost surreal that she was able to play for her idol Dawn Staley at South Carolina and helping build the foundation for the Lady Gamecocks basketball program Named SEC Player of the Year in 2014 & 2015 Earned the Dawn Staley Award for the nation’s best guard in 2016 Feels very blessed to have been drafted by Indiana even though she fell lower in the draft than she expected but she has used that as motivation Selected 9th overall by the Indiana Fever in 2016 She spends her off-season with the WNBA overseas playing in Russia Words of Wisdom from Tiffany Mitchell: “Nothing is given to you in life and you’re going to have to work hard for everything. Hard work is within life and you have to develop that at an early age and if you do then things will fall into place for you.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Tiffany Mitchell on Twitter: @TiffMitch25 To Follow Tiffany Mitchell on Instagram: @tiffmitch25 To Learn More Information about Tiffany Mitchell: Tiffany Mitchell Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images | Thinkstock

Episode 58: Jeff Scott | Clemson University Co-Offensive Coordinator & WR Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Jeff Scott Social media has changed recruiting significantly by allowing players to learn more about each school and coaches to learn more about the players As a son of college football coach, he really can’t remember life without sports Realized that he wanted to be a football coach while sitting in Charlie Ward’s (FSU) locker before the Florida St./Miami game in 1991 Jeff and his family leaned heavily on their faith that God had bigger plans for their family after his dad, Brad Scott, was fired as head coach at South Carolina Attended Clemson as was a walk-on WR and FG placeholder Won a state championship as head coach at Blythewood HS in 2006 Named Recruiting Coordinator and WR Coach in 2008 by Dabo Swinney after serving as a Grad Assistant under Tommy Bowden Named Co-Offensive Coordinator in 2014 with Tony Elliott Sports has allowed him to make relationships with so many people and players and he truly enjoys watching players grow into young men Words of Wisdom from Jeff Scott: “Bloom where you planted.” Advice he received from Dabo Swinney about focusing on where you are currently and not focusing on what’s next. Social Media/More Information: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Jeff Scott on Twitter: @coach_jeffscott To Follow Jeff Scott on Instagram: @coach_jeffscott Featured Image Photo Credit: Joshua S. Kelly – USA TODAY Sports

Episode 57: John Brenkus | 6x Emmy-Award Winning Creator & Host of Sport Science Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: John Brenkus Very blessed to be in a position of being recognized as the “Sport Science Guy” when in public after 1,800 segments of Sport Science Grew up in Vienna, VA and sports became intertwined in his life at an early age because he was drawn in as a fan first Influenced by the success of the Washington Redskins, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Bullets Baseball was his main sport growing up and ran cross-country in high school Being an athlete was not his identity but athletics were a part of his life Sport Science originated from a show on Discovery Channel called “XMA Extreme Martial Arts” which led to a show, “Fight Science”, on National Geographic Firmly believes that a person can do anything they CAN not anything they WANT His wife Lizzie refers to him as Johnny One-Speed because of his ability to either be all-in or all-out Became focused on being an endurance athlete after a friend ran a marathon Contends that his wife Lizzie is even a better endurance athlete than him Brink of Midnight is the band they formed together after releasing a music video at Christmas in 2014 called “Christmas is My Favorite Time of Year“ The band was the inspiration for the Brink of Midnight Podcast as a way to spread positive messages from luminaries from all walks of life about specific moments that changed their lives Ray of Hope Foundation is a passion of John’s as it’s mission is dedicated to uplifting those in dire need through sharing personalized videos – “rays of hope” – from the many luminaries and game-changers who support the charity Stay tuned for more announcements about the next iteration of Sport Science Words of Wisdom from John Brenkus: “Learn how to do everything yourself and then you can recognize your strengths and your weaknesses but you’ll be able to be self-sufficient” Social Media/More Information: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow John Brenkus on Twitter: @johnbrenkus_ To Follow Brink of Midnight on Twitter: @brinkofmidnight To Follow Brink of Midnight on Instagram: @brinkofmidnight To Follow Brink of Midnight on Facebook: <a...

Episode 56: Nelson Faerber | Former Clemson WR & Special Teams Player of the Year Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Nelson Faerber Last name is pronounced “Fair-ber” Even though started playing baseball first, football is favorite because he enjoyed hitting people Has always had the drive to outwork anyone and had aspirations of playing in college after seeing a fellow Chattahoochee High School alum Charlie Whitehurst play at Clemson Turned down multiple football scholarships at the military academies to become a preferred walk-on at Clemson Would play Wide Receiver and Special Teams where Dabo Swinney would be his position coach at WR Was instrumental in the annual rivalry game versus South Carolina in 2007 blocking a punt which was returned for a TD and catching a pass for a TD to help preserve the win 23-21 Was tempted to pursue playing in the NFL but decided law school would be his career path Attended Florida State University to earn his Law Degree where he would then join the Air Force and serve with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in Afghanistan Now married to former Miss South Carolina, Erika Powell, he is continuing the pursuit of serving as a Republican candidate for South Carolina Secretary of State Words of Wisdom from Nelson Faerber: “No one wants to put the overalls on. People want to play on Saturdays but not many want to put the overalls on and do the hard work and this gives me a great visual to remind myself that you have to put in the hard work.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Nelson Faerber on Twitter: @NelsonFaerberSC To Follow Nelson Faerber on Instagram: @nelsonfaerbersc To Follow Nelson Faerber on Facebook: Nelson Faerber To Follow Nelson Faerber for Secretary of State Page on Facebook: Nelson Faerber SC Featured Image Photo Credit: Nelson Faerber

Episode 55: Randy Foye | 11-year NBA Veteran & Former Villanova All-American Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Randy Foye During March Madness there’s so much smack talk in the NBA locker rooms about whose alma maters will make a run in the tournament Currently, a free agent and retirement is not something he is considering right now Baseball is his best sport and only started playing basketball because he didn’t like wearing the tight pants with baseball Fred Hill was influential in his decision to attend Villanova University and head coach Jay Wright helped develop him into the man he is today His dad died in a motorcycle accident when he was 2 and his mom disappeared when he was 5 in 1989 He would learn in 2016 that his mom had died in 1989 but she was never identified and DNA tests confirmed her identity which allowed him to have closure on what had happened to his mom Born with a condition called Situs Inversus where his internal organs are reversed however has never had any issues with this condition Looks at his life and understands that he is truly an underdog and should have never been in the position that he’s in and basketball helped save his life Started his podcast “Outside Shot” after the presidential election with help from Noah Scheinmann sharing the inspirational stories of underdogs from all walks of life and Season 2 is about to be launched Words of Wisdom from Randy Foye: “Believe in the impossible. Impossible is nothing, it’s just a word. Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself and work hard.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Randy Foye on Twitter: @randyfoye To Follow Randy Foye on Instagram: @foyeboy To Learn More Information About Outside Shot Podcast: Outside Shot Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images/Chris Schwegler

Episode 54: Allisha Gray | Dallas Wings Guard & WNBA 2017 Rookie of the Year Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Allisha Gray Finishing up her degree from South Carolina this May 2018 in Broadcast Journalism Slowly becoming more interested in being in front of the camera after her playing days are over Played basketball and softball growing up in Sandersville, GA Inspired by both her older and younger brother and competed against them in almost everything Her family is very important to her and has always been there supporting her and her dad is the high school principal in Sandersville Suffered a serious knee injury during her Senior year and she struggled to stay positive but her family and support network motivated her to work even harder to come back Having to sit out after transferring from North Carolina to South Carolina was difficult but allowed her to see the game from a different perspective Winning the National Championship was surreal but she didn’t have much time to celebrate as she had to make a quick decision to enter the WNBA draft and forego her final year of eligibility Selected 4th overall by the Dallas Wings One of her favorite memories is her first WNBA game and having to guard one her idols growing up, Diana Taurasi Earned WNBA 2017 Rookie of the Year Words of Wisdom from Allisha Gray: “Be yourself, stay the course, and stay inspired to do what you want you to do and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Allisha Gray on Twitter: @Graytness_15 To Follow Allisha Gray on Instagram: @graytness_15 Featured Image Photo Credit: Dallas Wings

Episode 53: Kevin Willis | 22-year NBA Veteran & NBA Champion Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Kevin Willis Commitment to training has kept him in shape throughout his career and after his playing days Became interested in fashion at an early age when he would swap clothes with neighborhood friends Was more into running than basketball as a kid and good outrun anyone and then grew 5 inches in one summer It was coach William Carter at Persian High School that invited him to play basketball Went to junior college at Jackson Community College & Jud Heathcote from Michigan State recruited him to be a Spartan After his Senior year at Michigan State, many still doubted his full NBA potential but Marty Blake, NBA superscout, invited him to attend the 1984 NBA Draft Kevin was selected 11th overall to the Atlanta Hawks in 1984 Willis Reed and Hakeem Olajuwon had a profound impact on his career by trying to get him to play without so much anger Hardest players to matchup against were Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley Named an NBA All-Star in 1992 and would win an NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 Started his clothing line Willis & Walker in 1988 and would spend several summers interning through the NBA in NYC to learn more about the clothing business Continues to focus on his clothing line and giving back through the Atlanta Children’s Foundation Words of Wisdom from Kevin Willis: “Always follow your dreams and the number one thing is always to trust in God. You need that foundation that only God can provide that you need to stand upon.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Kevin Willis on Twitter: @KevinWillis42 To Follow Willis & Walker on Twitter: @willisandwalker To Follow Kevin Willis on Instagram: @kevinwillis42 To Follow Willis & Walker on Facebook: WillisAndWalker To Find out more information about Atlanta Children’s Foundation: Atlanta Children Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images / Andrew Bernstein

Episode 52: Dwight “Doc” Gooden | Former 16-year MLB Veteran & NL Cy Young Award Winner Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dwight “Doc” Gooden Baseball was the only thing he wanted to do growing up and never knew the type of impact that he would have on people for playing a game he loved Was very shy growing up and didn’t really play organized baseball Didn’t play baseball in high school until his Junior year Signed National Letter of Intent to play college baseball at the University of Miami but decided to pursue professional career after being drafted in the 1st round and 5th overall by the NY Mets Still remembers his first start in the Majors against the Houston Astros in 1984 and he was so anxious he walked approximately 3 miles to the Astrodome Was very superstitious and one of his biggest superstitions was that he would wash his car before the game on the days he started because he had washed his car while in the Minors and he had a great game Chose the number 16 because it was the closest to his favorite number 10 Very difficult to write his book Doc: A Memoir, but he felt he needed to tell his story in his own words and hopefully it would impact one person to avoid the dangers of addiction or show that you can recover from addiction Best pitcher that he has seen is Pedro Martinez and Barry Bonds is the best hitter that he ever faced Was most energized by the home crowd especially at Shea Stadium with the NY Mets Just recently started helping a Japanese minor league team with coaching for the pitchers Words of Wisdom from Dwight Gooden: “What good is having a life if you can’t impact someone else’s life.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Dwight Gooden on Twitter: @DocGooden16 To Follow Dwight Gooden on Instagram: @docgooden To Find out more information about Dwight’s book: Doc: A Memoir To Find out more information about Gooden Brand: Gooden Brand Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images / Mike Powell

Episode 51: Eric Pincus | Bleacher Report & Basketball Insiders NBA “Capologist” Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Eric Pincus Born in NY but moved to Los Angeles at 7-years old and his 2 uncles were die-hard NY Mets fans Baseball was his first love but played more football Loved sports as a kid because it was entertainment with unscripted drama Eventually gave up playing sports in high school to focus on being a DJ for various parties and functions Loved listening to Chick Hearns call Los Angeles Lakers games Eventually started writing for HoopsWorld.com which was fansite internet blog and then Swish Magazine Found his niche with how teams are built based on salary cap and collective bargaining deals and didn’t gravitate towards breaking news Enjoys being able to explain why trades happen Getting more comfortable in front of the camera with NBA TV and Kenny Smith has helped him be more confident First true player interview was with Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers Honored to be involved in Kobe Bryant’s movie Muse Words of Wisdom from Eric Pincus: “If you’re going to do something, do it well and don’t get into it if you’re not interested in doing it right.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Eric Pincus on Twitter: @EricPincus To Follow Eric Pincus on Instagram: @ericpincus To Learn More About Basketball Insiders: basketballinsiders.com To Learn More About Bleacher Report: bleacherreport.com To Learn More About Hollywood Hoops: HollywoodHoops Featured Image Photo Credit: NBA TV

Episode 50: Woodrow “Woody” Dantzler III | Former Clemson University QB & NFL Athlete Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Woody Dantzler Was not a true college or pro football fan growing up in Orangeburg, SC as his first idol was Bruce Lee Began excelling in track and field and started learning the importance of technique while learning to throw the javelin True motivation while playing sports was not to win but to never let his teammates down Rick Stockstill is the only reason he decided to sign with Clemson Learning the complexity of the college game was a big challenge as he redshirts his freshman year where Brandon Streeter and Nealon Greene were very influential in his development Eventually becomes the starting QB at Clemson and becomes the first QB in NCAA history to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season He came to his faith after Head Coach Tommy West was fired and Tommy Bowden was hired Decided to continue his playing career to see how far it could take him and he trusted that God would open doors and allow him to use his platform to connect others with Christ While he loves coaching people, he never had the desire to be a coach because of everything else involved with coaching Words of Wisdom from Woody Dantzler: “No matter the situation, no matter what has happened you have a choice.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports Featured Image Photo Credit: Bart Boatwright, Greenville News

Episode 49: Irving Roland | NBA Player Development Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Irving Roland  Grew up in Oklahoma City and football was his favorite sport to watch growing up because of the popularity of football in the southwest Comes from a family that loves sports Primed for a big senior season in high school until he suffers a broken leg at the Pump Brothers camp in Los Angeles where he was fouled on a fast break dunk Spent 2 years at Carl Albert State College and then continued college career at Southwestern Oklahoma St. University Connected with Dave Hopla in Chicago who helped him secure an unpaid internship with the Boston Celtics as an Assistant Video Coordinator which led to him being hired by the New Orleans Hornets Eventually, he would move on to the Phoenix Suns and then founded Blueprint Basketball in Miami in 2011 for off-season training for some of the top NBA talent Now works with the Houston Rockets and is the personal player development coach for James Harden He believes that sports allows you to learn who you are and how you can handle adversity Words of Wisdom from Irving Roland: “Your character will take you further than your talent.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports To Follow Irving Roland on Twitter: @irv_roland To Follow Irving Roland on Instagram: @irv_roland To Learn More About Blueprint Basketball Training: Blueprint Basketball Featured Image Photo Credit: Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Episode 48: Nick Schultz | Former 15-year NHL Veteran Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Nick Schultz Silverstick given to him for playing in his 1,000th NHL game is tucked away in his basement and is a special award Growing up in a small town in western Canada, hockey just became a part of his life early in his childhood with baseball in the summer and hockey the rest of the year Moved away as a teenager part of the year to be able to compete against better competition Realized that the NHL could be a part of his future around 18-19 years old and was drafted in the 2000 NHL Entry NHL Draft by the expansion team Minnesota Wild Would spend 10 years in Minnesota helping the Wild reach the Western Conference Finals against the Anaheim Ducks Grew up an Edmonton Oilers fan and was traded to Edmonton and was a special moment but his fonded memories were in Minnesota Finished out his career in Philadelphia after the 2017 season and now is enjoying the time with his family while easing into what the next chapter looks like for him and his family Lessons learned from sports involves the understanding to  of being part of a team and learning how to care for others, being a good teammate, and being there for others Words of Wisdom from Nick Schultz: “For young kids, don’t take things for granted and every day you have to work hard to prove your spot regardless of what you do. Don’t get ahead of yourself, keeping working hard and enjoy the ride in whatever it may be.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images, Joe Sargent

Episode 47: Harold Hughes | Bandwagon CEO & Founder Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Harold Hughes Parents are Jamaican immigrants and he was born in NYC and moved to Columbia, SC before entering kindergarten He feels blessed to have been able to play sports which allowed him to connect with other kids Spent a year in Jamaica before entering school in Columbia, SC and struggled with the transition back into America because of his accent and how he felt kids viewed him as dumb because they couldn’t understand him Education became very important to him and he thought his path would eventually lead to being a lawyer after attending Clemson University His career aspirations changed after working as a courier for a law firm and then receiving an offer to work at ScanSource in Greenville, SC After receiving his MBA from Clemson while working it was then that he started to realize that he wanted to find something to marry his two passions of connecting with people and sports He eventually started Bandwagon, a fan-t0-fan ticket marketplace, after being fired from a job unexpectedly and took the leap into entrepreneurship Continuing his education and knowledge as he’s currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Was motivated by people saying that you can’t do something but even more so to prove people right because they believed in him Bandwagon is now being transformed into more than a sports tech company offering a fan-to-fan ticket marketplace but now into a stadium identity data management company using block-chain technology Lessons learned from sports involves the understanding to always be ready when your name is called and the importance of being a contributor to the entire whole (team) Words of Wisdom from Harold Hughes: “We all need to focus on collaboration and being transparent so you can get people to the table to hear your ideas and being comfortable to go in a different path and taking a risk.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Harold Hughes on Twitter: @OneBandwagonFan To Follow Bandwagon on Twitter: @BandwagonTix To Follow Harold Hughes on Instagram: @haroldph To Follow Bandwagon on Instagram: @bandwagonfanclub To Find More Information about Bandwagon: bandwagonfanclub Featured Image Photo Credit: Harold Hughes

Episode 46: Sharone Wright | Former NBA Lottery Pick & Clemson University 2-Time All-ACC Selection Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Sharone Wright Many people don’t believe that he had a role in the movie Space Jam with Michael Jordan until they see the credits and he still receives royalty checks His agent was David Falk who was Michael Jordan’s agent and that allowed him access to many things like the opportunity to have a role in Space Jam He was always around the game of basketball during his childhood because his dad had played at Savannah St. and had won a state championship in high school Dan Roundfield of the Atlanta Hawks was influential in his development as his AAU coach Immediately fell in love with Clemson during his visit even though initially he had no interest in visiting as he was intending to play at Duke Family and friends gave him significant support during his senior year in high school after his dad was killed the same day he signed with Clemson Cliff Ellis the head coach at Clemson was also one of the main reasons he signed with Clemson and then Coach Ellis was influential in his decision to leave Clemson early for the NBA He was the 6th Overall Pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers which was a team he grew up following because he modeled his game after the former 76ers center Moses Malone Requested a trade after his 2nd season in Philadelphia and was traded to the Toronto Raptors as he wanted to be in a better environment A car wreck in July 1997 in Macon, GA derailed his NBA career due to significant injuries to his left arm Continued a playing career in Europe & Asia but initially had a difficult transition due to the loneliness of being in foreign countries Maintains a basketball presence with AAU teams and his basketball school “Wright Hoops School” Words of Wisdom from Sharone Wright: “Even if someone says that they won’t pay you for what you’re passionate about, still go do it because it could be a blessing for someone else.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Sharone Wright on Twitter: @SIXTHPICK94 To Follow Sharone Wright Hoops School on Twitter: @sw_hoopschool Featured Image Photo Credit: Brad Mangin, Getty Images

Episode 45: Bob Rathbun | Fox Sports Southeast Atlanta Hawks Play-by-Play Announcer Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bob Rathbun Grew up in Salisbury, NC and his first entry into sports broadcasting was at 12-years old when he called the local radio station First job was as a sports director at WSTP in Salisbury, NC in 1973 after graduating from Catawba College Marty Brennaman was very influential early in his career and would visit him during the summers and Marty helped Bob get his job in Virginia and was there for 14 years Left Virgina for baseball play-by-play with Detroit Tigers replacing the legend Ernie Harwell and it was the worst 3-years of his career Moved to Atlanta in 1996 after his time in Detroit Watches a lot of film to prepare but the biggest part of his prep is talking to people Feels that the art of storytelling is being lost in broadcasting Biggest memories of professional basketball was the old ABA days with the Carolina Cougars and hard to say one guy is the greatest basketball player Enjoys giving back and being a mentor because of the great mentors in his life such as Dr. Karl Hales at Catawba College Became a speaker for John Maxwell which ultimately led to writing a book “Fast Forward Winner” Sports has meant everything to him and a quote from Don Shula represents his feelings on his job in sports, “The closer I get to the stadium the faster I walk.” Words of Wisdom from Bob Rathbun: “No matter what your age, no matter where you see your station in life if you’ve got a heartbeat you can make positive change.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Bob Rathbun on Twitter: @BobRathbunTV To Follow Bob Rathbun on Instagram: @bobrathbuntv To Find Out More Information about Bob Rathbun: bobrathbun.com Featured Image Photo Credit: Greg Crawford via Twitter @wchoops

Episode 44: Tim Bourret | Clemson University Assistant AD/Football Communications Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Tim Bourret Enjoys the Fake Twitter account and has fun with it and still doesn’t know who created the account Grew up in Connecticut listening to Notre Dame sports on the radio since his dad was a Notre Dame graduate and was always enthralled with numbers and stats Didn’t have any intentions of pursuing a career in sports information as he had plans to work on the stock exchange floor His dad had a chance meeting with Roger Valdiserri, SID at Notre Dame which eventually led Tim to be an intern while a student at Notre Dame Opportunity at Clemson came available under Bob Bradley and Tim was hired where he helped cover all sports at Clemson Started doing color commentary for men’s basketball in 1980 and also did commentary for football from 1982-1988 Greatest athlete at Clemson in his opinion is CJ Spiller Tim embraced the evolution of social media because it gave the other non-revenue sports a way to self-promote His job can be challenging today as he has to balance the need for media access to coaches and players versus the protection of privacy Words of Wisdom from Tim Bourret: “Align yourself with a school, don’t align yourself with a coach or someone you work with.” Received from Roger Valdiserri about his career in sports information Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Tim Bourret on Twitter: @Tim Bourret To Follow Fake Tim Bourret on Twitter: @FakeTimBourret Books by Tim Bourret: Clemson University: 2016 National Champions If These Walls Could Talk: Clemson Tigers Clemson University Football Vault Basketball For Dummies Tales From the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Locker Room Father Ted Hesburgh: He Coach Me Featured Image Photo Credit: Clemson University

Episode 43: Ian Eagle | CBS Sports, YES Network, Westwood One Play-By-Play Announcer Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Ian Eagle Finding balance in life now while spending the year broadcasting NFL, college basketball, NBA, and Tennis First fell in love with the personalities in sports Sports was an escape for him with divorced parents who were entertainers Entertaining was also easy for him and wasn’t afraid to be on stage Attended Syracuse University and Mike Tirico became a mentor After interning at WFAN in NY, he got his first job as a radio producer from 7 PM – 12 AM at the station in 1990 Howie Rose provided on-the-job training in those early years before getting the job on the YES Network as the play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Nets where he was paired with Bill Raftery who Ian considers the best His nickname of “Bird” or “Birdman” is up for debate on who coined the nickname first, either Bob Raissman of the NY Daily News or Bill Raftery Ultimate goal in TV play-by-play is not to get in the way and to create the vision for the audience for radio play-by-play Words of Wisdom from Ian Eagle: “Treat everything with respect, treat people with respect and you’ll get respect.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports   Featured Image Photo Credit: CBS Sports

Episode 42: Bob Richey | Furman University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bob Richey Coaching against Coach K at Duke brought back memories as a kid thinking that one day he wanted to be a college basketball coach and now it was reality Watching Eddie Fogler coach at South Carolina as a kid was the first time he thought about having a career in coaching but it wasn’t until he was 23-years old that he decided to take the leap into coaching First memories of playing sports was a yellow basketball and he became hooked on basketball eventually playing on the Division II level at North Greenville University Barclay Radebaugh at Charleston Southern gave him his first coaching break where he quickly took it upon himself to get involved in recruiting based on the advice of current UCLA assistant coach Duane Broussard Left Charleston Southern for Furman and stayed on staff during a coaching change when Niko Medved was hired Coach Medved gave him advice that he needed to start thinking like a  head coach and when Coach Medved accepted the head coaching position at Drake Bob was promoted to head coach at Furman in April 2017 His faith is a cornerstone of his life as he also focuses on the concept of “Grow the Person, Grow the Program” where he’s building a culture of investing into the development of the players in all walks of life Words of Wisdom from Bob Richey: “Don’t focus on approval so much, focus on authenticity.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Bob Richey on Twitter: @CoachRichey To Follow Furman Men’s Basketball on Twitter: @FurmanHoops To Listen to All Din Podcast: All Din Podcast To Learn More Information about Furman Men’s Basketball: Furman Men’s Basketball Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images/Icon Sportswire

Episode 41: Edwin McCain | Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Edwin McCain Huge NFL fan and favorite team is New England Patriots Loved playing sports at an early age growing up in South Carolina Music has always been a big part of his life and started playing at clubs at 15 Playing at fraternities in the south with Hootie and the Blowfish and Dave Matthews Band is when the true music journey started Timing was a big factor in musical career with a lot of luck Singing the National Anthem for the AFC Championship game in January 2017 for the New England Patriots is one of his biggest thrills Continues to focus on giving back and especially in Greenville, SC where the city has given him so much Words of Wisdom from Edwin McCain: “Your ability to succeed in life is in direct proportion to your ability to ask for help.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter:  @richtakesports To Follow Edwin McCain on Twitter:  @TheEdwinMcCain To Follow Edwin McCain on Instagram:  @theedwinmccain To Learn More Information about Edwin McCain Tour & New EP:  Edwin McCain Featured Image Photo Credit: Wayne Culpepper

Episode 40: George Hincapie | Former Professional Cyclist & 17-Time Tour de France Finisher Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: George Hincapie Unsure how many total miles he has ridden on a bike in his career First memory on a bicycle was his sister’s bike learning how to ride but he didn’t really enjoy riding until later on while riding on the weekends with his dad Didn’t play other sports growing up and had challenges fitting in as a teenager until he reached a higher level and people recognized his greatness Had a difficult transition as pro early on because it was hard to adjust to living in a foreign country with language barriers and the cultural differences His strengths were the super intense 1-day races with long distances Knowing his strengths helped ensure a long professional career Winning a stage in the 2006 Tour de France was a special moment but there are many special moments from his career Performance Enhancing Drugs were prevalent during his early professional days and the pressure to compete led to his use but making the decision to ride clean has been a focal point for him as he passes on his wisdom to young riders Feels that the sport of cycling is making great progress and strides regarding PED’s and feels very confident that the sport will only continue to increase in popularity Focuses now on his team of riders, Hincapie Sportswear, and his hotel endeavor with Hotel Domestique Words of Wisdom from George Hincapie: “In all walks of life, you must block doubtful thoughts in order to get the best performance from your body.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter:  @richtakesports To Follow George Hincapie on Twitter:  @ghincapie To Follow George Hincapie on Instagram:  @ghincapie To Learn More Information about George:  George Hincapie To Learn More Information about Hincapie Sportswear:  Hincapie Sportswear To Learn More Information about Hotel Domestique:  Hotel Domestique To Find Information about George Hincapie Book:  The Loyal Lieutenant Feature Image Photo Credit: Frank Fife/Getty Images

Episode 39: Kendall Gill | Former NBA Veteran & University of Illinois All-American Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Kendall Gill Enjoyed the time playing in the Big 3 League founded by Ice Cube but felt his age negatively impacted how he was viewed as a player Stays in shape today through boxing Boxing was his first sport he started playing and didn’t even like basketball Played multiple sports and starting playing basketball when his family moved to the suburbs of Chicago He was convinced that he would play at Michigan St., however, the morning after making the decision to attend Michigan St. he changed his mind a signed with Illinois Greatest moment in his playing career is making the Final Four in 1989 with Illinois on the team labeled, “Flyin’ Illini” Suffered devasting migraine headaches throughout his NBA career Feels that he could be in the Hall of Fame if he wouldn’t have let so many distractions cloud his mental focus Biggest regret in his NBA career is not agreeing to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers Currently working as an NBA studio analyst for Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago for the Chicago Bulls Words of Wisdom from Kendall Gill: “Define yourself for yourself or you’ll be trapped in someone else’s fantasies and eaten alive.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Kendall Gill on Twitter:  @KendallG13 To Follow Kendall Gill on Instagram:  @officialkendallgill Feature Image Photo Credit: Bernie Nunez/Getty Images

Episode 38: Rob Vaka | Athlete Mentor – Helping NFL Players Tackle Life After Football Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Rob Vaka Grew up in New Jersey with 2 brothers and played all sports and gravitated towards soccer Playing soccer led to playing football as a kicker and had aspirations of kicking in college Interested in University of Florida however due to recruiting violations in the mid ’80’s the Gators were placed on probation Dad played college football in Ohio and Rob visited Ohio and fell in love with Wittenburg University Rob went on to play all 4 years at Wittenberg University and set several kicking records NFL aspirations were short-lived as his feels today that his mindset at that time wasn’t ready to compete at that level Moved into business with Mobile and eventually was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 31 in 1999 After beating cancer, his perspective of positivity was only enhanced and now focuses on significance vs. success Views himself as a mentor to professional athletes and connector for career opportunities after their playing days are finished while focusing on giving back Words of Wisdom from Rob Vaka: “The Golden Rule… do unto others as you’d want done unto you.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Rob Vaka on Twitter:  @RobVaka To Follow Rob Vaka on Instagram:  @robvaka To Learn More About Brink of Midnight Podcast:  Brink of Midnight To Learn More About 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry:  4:8 Principle To Learn More About Tim Jennings’ Elite Sports Academy:  Elite Sports Academy Feature Image Photo Credit: Ray of Hope Foundation

Episode 37: Digger Phelps | Former Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Head Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Digger Phelps Played all sports with the neighborhood kids in Beacon, NY Father was a funeral home director and mortician He convinced his parents to let him try coaching basketball instead of going to embalming school to continue in the family business Spent one year at Fordham as Head Coach and then took the job at the University of Notre Dame in 1971 Defeated seven #1 ranked teams in 20 years Most notable #1 ranked team to defeat was UCLA ending their 88-game win streak Felt it was time to move on after 20 years as Head Coach at Notre Dame Briefly contemplated a job at DePaul but decided his coaching days were done and moved into broadcasting and as an analyst with ESPN in 1994 Retired from ESPN in 2014 and stays active with painting and recently published another book, entitled “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me” Words of Wisdom from Digger Phelps: “Never assume, follow-up, and always have a back-up.” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Digger Phelps on Twitter:  @DiggerPhelps To Learn More about “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me” Book by Digger Phelps:  “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me” Feature Image Photo Credit: ESPN

Episode 36: Bryce Johnson | Founder & President  UNPACKIN ‘it Ministries Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Bryce Johnson Basketball & swimming were his first love of sports Two younger brothers and dad was an athlete and both brothers became better athletes Moved away from swimming but coached in high school and played church league basketball as his faith became a main focal point in his life in high school Realized that sports was such a great way to connect with people from different backgrounds Attended Appalachian State University and worked for the radio station on campus (WASU) Started Sports YAPP after graduating and convinced a friend to be his producer and gained airtime in Charlotte but pressures were too great to continue with that model Fox Sports 730 launched in Charlotte and was able to get airtime on with Sports YAPP Something was missing which led him to found UNPACKIN ‘it Ministries and the UNPACKIN ‘it radio show and podcast Continues to focus on reaching and connecting with people through sports and faith Words of Wisdom from Bryce Johnson: “Stay centered.  Allow yourself to get upset but don’t lose sight in where you’re going and when good things happen, allow yourself a pat on the back but don’t get lost in where you’re going.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Sport is not only a form of entertainment but also – and above all, I would say – a tool to communicate values that promote the good that is in humans and help build a more peaceful fraternal society.”  Pope Francis Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow Bryce Johnson on Twitter:  @BRYCERADIO To Learn More About UNPACKIN ‘it Ministries:  UNPACKIN ‘it Feature Image Photo Credit: Bryce Johnson/UNPACKIN ‘it

Episode 35: Dan Mowrey | Former Florida St. University Placekicker Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dan Mowrey Baseball was his first love Started playing soccer and begged his dad to play football Practiced in a field kicking over a pear tree Chose FSU over Florida after first committing to Florida Redshirted Freshman year at FSU and it took time to regain full confidence Uniquely tied to the FSU-Miami rivalry after missing game-tieing kick in final seconds in 1992 known as “Wide Right II” The missed kick does not define him and was actually one of the best things to happen to him NFL opportunity never materialized and eventually decided on law school and is now a partner in Mowrey, Shoemaker, Beardsley law firm in St. Augustine, FL Words of Wisdom from Dan Mowrey: “Stay centered.  Allow yourself to get upset but don’t lose sight in where you’re going and when good things happen, allow yourself a pat on the back but don’t get lost in where you’re going.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”  President Theodore Roosevelt Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Learn More about Mowrey, Shoemaker, Beardsley Law Firm: Mowrey, Shoemaker, Beardsley Feature Image Photo Credit: John Biever, Getty Images

Episode 34: Tony Villani | Founder and Owner of XPE Sports Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Tony Villani Became involved in sports because his dad played football at Duke Dad wouldn’t let him play football though Basketball was his favorite sport Graduated from Clemson University and received a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from George Washington University Worked with Orlando Magic before a job as Director Of Human Performance at Cris Carter’s FAST Program Founded XPE Sports in Atlanta in 2002 Trained Jamal Lewis for free which ultimately led to breakout seasons for Jamal Relocated XPE Sports to Boca Raton, FL in 2009 and created the SHREDmill in 2011 Has now become one of the most trusted and respected trainers for speed and agility training for NFL Combine Words of Wisdom from Tony Villani: “Sometimes praise can be hard to deal with so make sure to stay humble and try not to be conceited.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “There’s a thin line between confidence and arrogance.  It’s called Humility. Confidence smiles while arrogance smirks.”  Author Unknown Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports To Follow XPE Sports on Twitter: @xpe_sports To Follow Tony Villani on Twitter: @tonyvillaniXPE To Follow XPE Sports on Instagram: @xpesports To Follow XPE Sports on Facebook: XPE Sports To Learn More about XPE Sports: XPE Sports Feature Image Photo Credit: Sun Sentinel

Episode 33: Dave Odom | Former Wake Forest & South Carolina Men’s Basketball Head Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dave Odom Grew up in Goldsboro, NC playing all sports Could have a been a coach in football or baseball but his first job opportunity was coaching basketball First college job came after his time working at the Five Star camp in Pennsylvania Left East Carolina as Head Coach because he missed the ACC and it was a great opportunity to work with Terry Holland at University of Virginia The Wake Forest job came about very quickly and ultimately decided to leave for the University of South Carolina because he felt it was time for a change Misses coaching but doesn’t miss the recruiting and fundraising Words of Wisdom from Dave Odom: “Don’t be in too big of a hurry, let things happen naturally. Enjoy yourself, enjoy your family and keep a good balance in life.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Ability is what you’re capable of doing, Motivation determines what you do, and Attitude determines how well you do it.”  Lou Holtz Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports Feature Image Photo Credit: University of South Carolina

Episode 32: Ally McDonald | LPGA Tour Member Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Ally McDonald Her journey started with her dad modifying a 3-iron when she was 4-years old She loved any sport with a ball and the thrill of competing Her favorite sport was basketball but her talent from God was Golf She petitioned to be on the boy’s high school team because there wasn’t a girl’s team at her high school and she was allowed to play but from the boy’s tees and eventually won the Boy’s Mississippi High School State Championship She attended Mississippi State University before embarking on the Symetra Tour and eventually the LPGA Tour Biggest adjustment on tour is understanding the challenges with travel While the first half of her rookie season on the LPGA Tour wasn’t up to her expectations, she feels that she is becoming much more comfortable in the 2nd half of the tour and her results are showing that Sports has given her an opportunity to have a platform to show people that in whatever you do give God the glory Words of Wisdom from Ally McDonald: 1 Corinthians [10:31] “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who don’t give up.”  Unknown Social Media: To Follow Ally McDonald on Twitter: @allymc10 To Follow Ally McDonald on Instagram: @a_mc10 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports Feature Image Photo Credit: Symetra Tour

Episode 31: Dabo Swinney | Clemson University Head Football Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dabo Swinney His journey doesn’t seem real at times but so gives thanks to God each day Youngest of 3 boys growing up so sports has always been a part of his life Grew up wanting to be a doctor (pediatrician) His best sport was baseball and his favorite sport is basketball Felt he had more chances to make the Alabama football team because the number of players on a football team His colloquialisms such as “All In”, “The Fun is in the Winning”, “Control the Input” probably comes his dad Sports has given him family, structure, direction, toughness, how to win and lose, and how to set goals Words of Wisdom from Coach Swinney: “Keep your eyes on the lord, believe in yourself, and don’t quit.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you.”  Unknown Social Media: To Follow Clemson Football on Twitter: @ClemsonFB To Follow Clemson Football on Instagram: @clemsonfb To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports Feature Image Photo Credit: AP File Photo

Episode 30: Taylor Stern | Dallas Cowboys Social Media Coordinator Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Taylor Stern Influenced greatly by her grandfather who was a high school basketball coach Grew up a Notre Dame fan Loves Sports because of the stories Even though she didn’t make the cheerleading squad at the University of New Mexico it allowed her to seek other Sports intern positions Had to choose between a job with Notre Dame or Dallas Cowboys Favorite Dallas Cowboys social media follows are Jason Witten and Jaylon Smith Words of Wisdom from Taylor Stern: “Keep an open mind and understand that you can be there. You really can go wherever you want to go.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”  Albert Einstein Social Media: To Follow Taylor Stern on Twitter: @TayStern To Follow Taylor Stern on Instagram: @TayStern Find More Information about Taylor Stern’s Blog: Tay Stern Find More Information about Dallas Cowboys Cover 4: Dallas Cowboys Cover 4 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports Feature Image Photo Credit: Adam White, Front Office Sports

Episode 29: Jay Richardson | Former NFL & Ohio State University Defensive End Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: The Nation needs to be addressing the issue at hand which is racial inequalities and not the rhetoric currently being focused on. Social Media: To Follow Jay Richardson on Twitter: @JayRichardson99 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 28: George Wrighster III | Former NFL and University of Oregon Tight End Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: George Wrighster III Wrote the column about masculinity because of things in his life after getting married Grew up in Memphis but moved to California and even though he was a chubby kid and battled stuttering he wanted to be a professional athlete and work in TV Attended the University of Oregon after a last minute visit before signing day Realized that the NFL was a business early in his career after being drafted in the 4th round by the Jacksonville Jaguars Focusing now on building his brand through multiple platforms which include a podcast coming out soon called UNAFRAID Becoming less optimistic that Colin Kaepernick will be in the NFL Words of Wisdom from George Wrighster III: “A man’s weaknesses flow from the same well as his strengths.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Success is a process, a quality of mind and way of being, an outgoing affirmation of life.”  Alex Noble Social Media: To Follow George Wrighster on Twitter: @georgewrighster Find More Information about George Wrighster Blog: Tight End Blog Find More Information about Saturday Blitz Blog: Saturday Blitz J. School Guest Column by George Wrighster III: What Steph Curry Taught Me About Being a Man To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 27: Jay Bilas | ESPN College Basketball Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Jay Bilas Grew up in Rolling Hills, CA in Southern California and gravitated to Sports because he wanted to have more trophies than his older brother Baseball was probably his favorite sport at first but eventually knew that basketball would be the sport he could play in college Signed with Duke because he trusted Mike Krzyzewski Made a family decision to not pursue coaching because they didn’t want to move across the country in pursuit of jobs Started broadcasting college basketball games on the side while working full-time as a lawyer Started with ESPN in 1995 and eventually left the law practice to pursue broadcasting full-time “35-Second Shot Clock” Segment Q&A: Boyz in the Hood or New Jack City – NEW JACK CITY LeBron James or Michael Jordan – LEBRON JAMES Brady Bunch or Partridge Family – BRADY BUNCH NFL or College Football – NFL Mercedes Benz or BMW – BMW More Trophies than his Brother – YES Words of Wisdom from Jay Bilas: “Next Play. When something happens, positive or negative it’s time to move on.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “There are five fundamental qualities that make every team great: communication, trust, collective responsibility, caring, and pride. I like to think of each as a separate finger on the fist. Any one individually is important. But all of them together are unbeatable.”  Mike Krzyzewski Social Media: To Follow Jay Bilas on Twitter: @JayBilas Find More Information about Jay Bilas Skills Camp: Jay Bilas Skills Camp Find More Information about Jay Bilas Book “Toughness”: Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 26: Alan Stein, Jr. | Performance Leadership Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Alan Stein, Jr. Basketball has been so good to him and he will always give his full support to basketball and hopes that parents and athletes will stop focusing on exposure and start focusing on fundamentals Fell in love with basketball first but played all Sports Performance side of Sports and training started in high school after meeting Washington Redskins Strenght & Conditioning Coach John Philbin Attended Elon College now Elon University on a basketball scholarship Never has worked a traditional job and loves entrepreneurship Continues to be involved with basketball performance coaching and training but now is focusing on another venture in corporate leadership speaking Considers Jay Bilas, Kevin Eastman, Jon Gordon, George Raveling as mentors Focuses on the ability to continue to learn and evolve in all aspects of life Words of Wisdom from Alan Stein, Jr.: “Self-awareness and being authentic is crucial to anyone’s success.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”  Will Durant Social Media: To Follow Alan Stein, Jr. on Twitter: @AlanSteinJr Find More Information about Alan Stein, Jr.: Alan Stein, Jr. Find More Information about Pure Sweat Basketball: Pure Sweat Basketball To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 25: Peter Burns | ESPN SEC Network Studio Anchor Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Peter Burns Almost surreal that he and his wife are about to parents and of course his wife’s due date is on October 21st during the busiest time of his working year First memories of Sports is attending LSU games with his dad Played all Sports but eventually decided on golf after he stopped growing and realized how much he enjoyed golf Attended UT-San Antonio for 2 years while playing golf and then transferred to St. Mary’s University to finish college and his playing career Never intended to have a career in Sports but won a national contest on the Tony Bruno show which was the springboard for his career in Sports Still amazed that he’s in his “Dream Job” but stays focused on always being prepared to perform his best Words of Wisdom from Peter Burns: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”  Maya Angelou Social Media: To Follow Peter Burns on Twitter: @PeterBurnsESPN Read Facebook Post from Peter Burns: How the Worst Days turn into the Most Important Ones To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 24: Brad Brownell | Clemson University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Brad Brownell Blessed to have a dad that was a high school basketball coach in Indiana and that was Coach Brownell’s first exposure to basketball and sports Never was coached by his dad in high school but his dad helped teach him the fundamentals Attended DePauw University where he played basketball Ultimately, was given his first break into coaching Division I basketball by Jerry Wainwright when Coach Wainwright became the head coach at UNC-Wilmington Coach Brownell then moved up the ranks at UNC-Wilmington eventually to head coach making the NCAA Tournament Made a very tough decision to leave UNC-Wilmington to become the head coach at Wright State and once again took that program to the NCAA Tournament Now he felt he had a good opportunity for a position at a major school and was eventually hired at Clemson from his previous success Words of Wisdom from Coach Brownell: “Championship teams are driven by the team.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Responsibility equals accountability equals ownership. A sense of ownership is the most powerful weapon a team or organization can have.” Pat Summitt Social Media: To Follow Brad Brownell on Twitter: @Coach_Brownell To Follow Clemson Men’s Basketball on Twitter: @ClemsonMBB To Follow Clemson Men’s Basketball on Instagram: Clemson MBB To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 23: Jared Emerson | World-Renowned Artist & Live Performance Speed Painter Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Jared Emerson First memories of Sports for Jared were playing basketball with his dad and brother Attended Bible College in NY and played basketball for one year before suffering multiple knee injuries Had to make a decision regarding his future and his artistic talent led him to follow a career in art As a “starving artist” in FL he was technically homeless but always had a home through friends Eventually moved to Greenville, SC to take the next step in his art career and performed his first live speed painting at church Now he continues to focus on his faith and reaching as many people as he can through his speed painting performances and his motto, “Art Reaches Everyone” Words of Wisdom from Jared: “Love God, love people.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” Author Unknown Social Media: To Follow Jared Emerson on Twitter: @jaredemerson To Follow Jared Emerson on Facebook: The Jared Collection To Follow Jared Emerson on Instagram: The Jared Collection To Find out more information about Jared Emerson Art: jaredemerson.com To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 22: Wes Durham | Voice of Atlanta Falcons & Radio/TV Play-by-Play Announcer Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Wes Durham Wes loved basketball from an early age and fell in love with the art of storytelling with play-by-play His dad Woody Durham who was the Voice of the Tarheels was a huge influence in his life and still seeks his advice Started his career at Radford but knew he would move on since Radford didn’t have a football team Spent 18-years at Georgia Tech and felt that he wanted to prove that he could do TV and ultimately left Georgia Tech to pursue TV Play-by-Play opportunities Before leaving Georgia Tech he was able to call games opposite of his dad who was calling the games for UNC and it was a thrill Wes understands the differences between tv play-by-play versus radio play-by-play and just wants to make sure and get out of the way when doing tv but focus on storytelling with radio Words of Wisdom from Wes: “Being a professional means doing something you love on days you don’t feel like doing it.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant Social Media: To Follow Wes Durham on Twitter: @WesDurham To Follow Wes Durham on Facebook: Wes Durham Support Aphasia Research: Woody Durham Aphasia Research T-Shirt To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 21: Carnell “Cadillac” Williams | Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Auburn University All-American Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Carnell “Cadillac” Williams Carnell shares how he thought the call he received from the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame was a prank call His mom wouldn’t let him play organized football so he would play with adults in a local park with his older brother and he eventually was the person always picked first even though he was 8-9-years old “Robo Cop” helped convince his mom to let him play At 11-years old, Carnell wrote down goals of graduating college and playing in the NFL and his friends laughed at him As a Freshman in High School, a University of Florida coach told him that he could play and contribute at Florida right now Even though he grew up an Alabama fan, he fell in love with Auburn after visiting an Auburn game versus Georgia Getting drafted was overwhelming but he would never be the same player after tearing both patella tendons Going back to get his degree from Auburn was something he knew he had to do because as a parent he knew he would be stressing the importance of an education After 2 years of being assistant coach in college, Carnell is starting his first season as the Running Backs coach at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL Words of Wisdom from Carnell: “Always have faith with action.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” Vince Lombardi Social Media: To Follow Carnell Williams on Twitter: @CoachCaddy24 Find IMG Academy Information: IMG Academy Football To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 20: Eric Mac Lain | Former Clemson University All-ACC Offensive Lineman Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Eric Mac Lain Life has been a whirlwind for him lately with a new job with JMI Sports, moved to Greenville, SC and was recently married on June 24th Started playing soccer but Basketball was his first love and dreamed of playing in the NBA and his dad didn’t want him and his brother to play football Started out as a Tight End but continued to play basketball throughout high school and it was the summer basketball camps that he went to each summer, not football Eric went to a football camp at the University of Tennessee and met Coach Dan Brooks at the camp. Head Coach Phillip Fulmer offered him a scholarship during camp His mom didn’t understand the magnitude of the offer but his dad did and wanted them to turn around and tell Coach Fulmer thank you The offer remained very quiet however Coach Fulmer was fired and that led to Eric not knowing exactly his status at Tennessee Coach Brooks was now at Clemson University and wanted Eric and his family to visit Clemson on their way home during Spring Break Eric didn’t even know if Clemson was a Division I school Everything lined up for a perfect visit to Clemson and he fell in love with staff and campus Entered as a Tight End and the speed of the game was big adjustment so he red-shirted He eventually made the move the Offensive Line after the Tigers sustained multiple injuries on the line in a game versus NC State During his Senior season, he was selected Pre-Season First-Team All-ACC by the media and coaches and he’s convinced that it was because the media enjoyed his interviews Knew he gave everything he had in the National Championship game versus Alabama and was sad that the team lost but even harder for him was the fact that it was the last time he would wear a Clemson football uniform Unfortunately, things with the NFL did not work out but it was easy for him to stop playing because he wasn’t defined by being a football player Eric firmly believed that he is a son of God and therefore that’s how he’s defined and this allowed him to stop playing and not have any issues because he was no longer a football player Words of Wisdom from Eric: “No matter who you’re talking to, no matter where you are; always treat it and handle it like it’s an interview.” Social Media: To Follow Eric Mac Lain on Twitter: @Mr_Clemson Find JMI Sports Information: JMI Sports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 19: David Pollack | ESPN College GameDay Football Analyst & Former UGA All-American Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: David Pollack David doesn’t have one specific moment that caused him to post his thoughts about sports and parenting and really doesn’t know why he did it other than God put it on his heart He had no idea that it would be received like it was and even USA Today writing an article about it: David Pollack Shares Advice on Parenting Young Athletes Competition is the driving force behind David and he did not control it growing up and still today has to focus on not let his competitiveness control him Loved playing all sports and thinks it’s valuable to allow kids to play all sports and not just focus on one year-round Loved football more because he was able to hit someone Told his dad at an early age that he was going to play in the NFL Attended the University of Georgia because it was closest to home Memorable games at UGA included at LSU, Clemson series, and finally beating Florida Was very easy for him to retire from the NFL after the neck injury because the risk of getting hurt was too great and it ultimately was the best thing that ever happened to him David got his start in broadcasting on radio with 790 The Zone in Atlanta which led to ESPNU and ultimately to ESPN College GameDay Sports allowed David to learn almost every facet of life Prediction for 4 teams in College Football Playoff: Alabama, Florida St, Ohio St., USC David wouldn’t pick a champion yet Words of Wisdom from David: “You have a choice to win the day. Attack the day and don’t worry about tomorrow.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” Tim Duncan Social Media: To Follow David Pollack on Twitter: @davidpollack47 Find Pollack Family Foundation Information: Pollack Family Foundation To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 18: Anna Hickey | 247 Sports Clemson Team & Recruiting Reporter Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Anna Hickey Anna comes from a sports family and she remembers always going to NC State football and basketball games even early on in her childhood She really enjoyed playing soccer and gymnastics Sports was a way for her and her dad to connect and bond Her dad introduced her to recruiting message boards and premium subscription sites as a teenager Once she was able to drive, she would drive to NC State practice fields and hide behind bushes to watch camps and record notes in her notebook and then compare those notes with her dad One player, Earl Wolff stands out as he was an unknown recruit however she recognized his talent and followed him and he eventually signed with NC State and was drafted in the NFL She decided to Clemson University because she wanted to go to a football school rather than play soccer in college at a small school Interned with ESPNU while at Clemson and graduated in 3.5 years Connected with Roy Philpott and worked for free as she helped with connecting with recruits and earned more responsibilities in her senior year and thoroughly enjoyed it Anna knew at that point she wanted to be a reporter and cover recruiting Volunteered with 247 Sports after graduation and then 2 weeks later Scout contacted her with a full-time job offer covering Notre Dame football Anna moved to Indianapolis and 2 years later she was contacted by 247 Sports to cover Clemson football and it was a chance to cover her alma mater She just wants to focus on getting better at her craft and doesn’t want to focus on what’s next Words of Wisdom from Anna: “Learn from everyone but copy no one” Social Media: To Follow Anna Hickey on Twitter: @annah247 Find Clemson 247 Sports Information: Clemson 247 Sports To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 17: Tony Barnhart | Mr. College Football and SEC Network TV Studio Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Tony Barnhart Prediction for college football top 4: Alabama Ohio St. Florida St. USC National Champion Prediction: Alabama Grew up in small town in Georgia (Union Point) Fell in love with baseball early on but once he went to a football game at the University of Georgia he was hooked on football Went to Georgia Southern because he wanted to be away from Athens which felt too close to home Planned on being a PE teacher until he saw a salary chart for teacher’s salary in the state of Georgia and had second thoughts Saw an ad on the student board for help in the Sports Department for the school newspaper and inquired Fell in love with seeing his name on the byline in the paper and knew he wanted to be in journalism and transferred to the University of Georgia Got his first job as the one-man sports department for a small newspaper in Union, SC Moved then to Greensboro, NC and had some of the best years of his career there before getting the call to join the staff for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Atlanta Became the beat writer covering the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team Promoted to Assistant Sports Director for AJC and learned so much on the job but was miserable not being close to the game and went back to being a beat writer for UGA in 1987 Most memorable games to cover have been the National Championships and the greatest game he ever saw was the Texas vs. USC game in January 2006 for the national title Social media completely changed how he did his job and a relative convinced him that he should be on Twitter His goal was to have 100 Followers and he now has over 122,000 Scott Peacock can be credited with giving Tony the name Mr. College Football after suggesting that Tony start writing a blog called “Mr. College Football” Prepares by compiling binders on each team with updated information during the off-season Sports completely defined his professional career and never dreamed that he would ever reach these heights Will celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary on August 14th and owes a lot of his success to his wife Maria Words of Wisdom from Tony: “You’ve got you got to be yourself. Figure out what works for you. Don’t try to be somebody else. Everybody’s road is different. ” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.” – Elbert Hubbard Social Media: To Follow Tony Barnhart on Twitter: @MrCFB Find Tony Barnhart on the Web: www.tonybarnhart.com   To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 16: Ryan Hawk | The Learning Leader Show Creator and Host & Former Collegiate Quarterback Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Ryan Hawk Ryan and his 2 brothers started playing at an early age they loved the competition He played all of the sports and didn’t just love one sport Loved the responsibility of playing Quarterback and the leadership role of the QB His brothers were everything for him in terms of his athletic development and competitive edge The importance of playing and trying to beat somebody else is I think healthy for kids to go through Ryan chose Miami coming out of high school because he really loved their coaches, loved the campus, loved the academics and loved the chance they would give him to play in the NFL as a quarterback based on what they were going to do all offensively Very difficult decision for Ryan to transfer to Ohio University because it was tough for him to fully understand that sometimes there are individuals that are just better such as his competition at Miami University with Ben Roethlisberger Got pulled back into football with the Birmingham Steeldogs of the Arena 2 Football league but didn’t know for sure if he should be there Ryan was committed at the time with football and did spend time in the CFL but realized at one point that it was time to move on Struggled with dealing with the fact that he wasn’t going to be a part of his collegiate team and that he wasn’t going to be a football player anymore Sales career helped him make the transition away from being a football player Your passion can follow you and quotes Mark Cuban, “if you go and do something and find out that you can develop some skill and you become pretty good at it, you’ll notice that you can become pretty passionate about it” Ryan became ritualized in calendaring and prospecting and he noticed that he became pretty good through repetition which was very similar to my football career Had dinner with Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban’s business manager and was fascinated by what he said and regretted that he didn’t record the conversation His experience of interviewing and studying the art of interviewing helped lead him to start The Learning Leader Show podcast and the coolest thing that he’s ever done He’s always on the path to learning more and knows that he’s only going to get better Greatest medicine for fear of participation is preparation and practicing is the most important thing he does Great leaders have humility, are serving and caring and they are also very curious about the world and incredible work ethics with routines Sports created the foundation for Ryan’s work ethic and preparation for everything he does and he can’t fathom what would have happened without playing sports Words of Wisdom from Ryan: “Don’t get too high or too low based on the words of other people.” Social Media: Learn more about The Learning Leader Show: LearningLeader To Follow Ryan Hawk on Twitter: @ryanhawk12 To Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: LinkedIn To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/richtakesports"...

Episode 15: Takeo Spikes | Former All-Pro 15-Year NFL Linebacker & Behind The Mask Author Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Takeo Spikes Writing the book was harder than playing 15 years in NFL because of writer’s block Inspired to write the book “Behind The Mask” after tearing his Achilles Tendon in 2006 and wanted to share stories of linebackers before him People in the book all had common themes of commitment, sacrifice and were outliers Trying to compete with his brothers motivated him at an early age and not being selected for neighbor games also motivated him to proof people wrong Loved basketball growing up but football allowed him to hit people without getting into trouble Track became an important sport for him because it allowed him to surprise people because many people were surprised he could run so fast Fear of coming in last is what motivated him to succeed Chose Auburn University Named MVP of SEC Championship after losing to Peyton Manning and the Tennessee Volunteers 30-29 in 1997 Decided to enter NFL draft after his Junior season Played 15 years in the NFL and was named Team Captain 13 of those 15 years Doesn’t regret leaving Cincinnati and like time in Buffalo because that city loved their football like a local high school team Doesn’t dwell on the fact that he never played in an NFL Playoff game after playing in over 200 games Brett Favre is the toughest QB he’s ever played against and an interception is better than a sack Words of Wisdom from Takeo: “If you are what you have and what you have gets taken away then who are you.” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient; when you’re committed to something you accept no excuses, only results “ Social Media: To Follow Takeo Spikes on Twitter: @takeospikes51 To Follow Takeo Spikes on Instagram: @takeospikes51 Find “Behind The Mask” Book: www.behindthemaskbook.com To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 14: Todd Jones | Detroit Tigers All-Time Saves Leader & American League All-Star Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Todd Jones First memories of sports was playing little league baseball Realized in College, Sophomore, and Junior year that he might be able to have a career playing baseball Played basketball and baseball growing up Involved in some AAU baseball teams nothing like it is today Feels bad for athletes today because they don’t get to experience the seasons of other sports Had dreams of being a pitcher like other kids but never thought it would be a reality and thankful to have a uniform Chose Jacksonville St. University in Jacksonville, AL because his academics would be helped there more Regrets not going back to get his college degree Was a starting pitcher in college and in the Minors but couldn’t maintain level of pitching due to pitch limit Sometimes playing is not about your ability but your availability First game in Majors was July 7, 1993 with the Houston Astros Was player rep for Astros in 1994 during MLB strike Traded to Detroit Tigers after Billy Wagner became Astros top closer Having best year in career in 2000 and was excited to make AL All-Star team but would have been upset if not selected Remembers facing Barry Bonds for the first time and thinking it was cool that Barry had to focus on him for the next 30 seconds Magical mystery tour starting in 2001 and had his toughest season in 2003 in Colorado His Faith helped him during those tough times in his career and his wife was great support Would have rather played in the World Series and lost rather than not have played in World Series Sports revealed that he does have a lot of fight in him Words of Wisdom: “God is the only thing that matters because he’s over and above everything” Social Media: To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 13: Connor Shaw | NFL and Former South Carolina QB Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Connor Shaw Was recently released by the Chicago Bears only to receive a Facetime call from the Bears Offensive Coordinator driving back to Greenville, SC that Mark Sanchez was hurt and he needed to return to the Bears Had an advantage by having his dad as a football coach Basketball was actually his favorite sport growing up in Georgia Was Florida Gator fan as he always felt he wanted to be different Looked up to Brett Favre and Drew Brees Once in a lifetime opportunity to play for his dad in high school Best memories was watching film with his dad after Friday night games His dad and Steve Spurrier are very similar Dad offered advice to leave high school early and enroll at University of South Carolina and it was difficult for him to be there instead of being in high school No regrets for leaving high school early Feels that everyone needs to have a “Why” Connor would have debates with Coach Steve Spurrier but having success with him is something that he will cherish forever Was definitely nervous in some games but not scared Loved playing in front of the crowd for the University of South Carolina Playing with a chip on your shoulder is somewhat exhausted Josh McCown has helped him tremendously Injuries can affect your confidence but he doesn’t want to be a product of circumstances Words of Wisdom: “Never get ahead of yourself & stay in concrete in the moment” Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Success isn’t something that just happens, success is learned, success is practiced and then it is shared.” – Sparky Anderson, Hall of Fame MLB Manager Social Media: Follow Connor Shaw On Twitter: @cmshaw14 Follow Connor Shaw on Instagram: @cmshaw9 To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 12: Brendan Haywood | 14 Year NBA Veteran, NBA Champion, & Analyst Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Brendan Haywood Grew up in Greensboro, NC in a single parent family with his mom Mom wanted him to have a father figure in his life so she pushed him to play basketball Was cut from the basketball team in 8th and 9th grade however Coach David Price convinced him to stay on the team because of his size Brendan matured into his size and became the most highly recruited basketball player in his school’s history at Dudley High School Recruited by legendary Head Coach Dean Smith and decided to attend North Carolina after Roy Williams at Kansas offered another big man instead of Brendan Drafted by Cleveland Cavaliers in First Round of 2001 NBA Draft but ultimately was traded to the Washington Wizards and played there until the 2010 season Traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2010 and became an NBA Champion after Dallas upset Lebron James and the Miami Heat Eventually retired after 14 seasons in the NBA in 2015 due to foot injuries Had already been working on a broadcasting career before retiring and now is a radio host and TV analyst for CBS, ESPN, and NBA TV Words of Wisdom: Find something that you really like, work towards that goal, and have a plan to get there Social Media: Follow Brendan Haywood On Twitter: @bwood_33 Brendan Haywood Website: www.bhaywood.com To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 11: Dan Everett, Founder of Everett Sports Marketing Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Google Play | Stitcher Rich Take On Sports Show Notes: Rich Spotlight: Dan Everett Grew up on a chicken farm in SW Georgia Loved sports at an early age and baseball was his passion Eventually fell in love with college football and was transient student at the University of Georgia Career aspirations of being an Optometrist Chance meeting with UGA Running Back Danny Ware led to starting Sic’Um Signatures in 2007 The genesis of the ESM camps began shortly after in 2008 and 3rd party marketing opportunities began to grow Really started representing more of the players no one else wanted to represent anymore Players took a leap of faith by coming to ESM Turning point for ESM was the year ESM represented both Aaron Murray and Connor Shaw ESM focuses on maximizing marketing opportunities where other agencies do not Decision was then made to only focus on football representation, golf representation, and youth football camps Market activation is the beginning of an endorsement Jonathan Allen is one of the most interesting clients they’ve ever represented ESM focuses on positioning clients with brands that are a natural fit for their personality ESM Youth Football Camps focus on football as well as role modeling and leadership Words of Wisdom involve two keywords: Proactive and Accountability Rich Headlines NBA Draft is another sign of the youth movement in the NBA with 16 Freshman selected in the First Round LA Clippers traded Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets for 7 players and a future draft pick James Dolan, owner of the NY Knicks parted ways with Phil Jackson signaling the end of the Phil Jackson era in the NBA Weekly Words Of Wisdom Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those whose hustle.  Abraham Lincoln Deshaun Watson Signed Print Giveaway 3 winners to be selected Follow on Twitter – @richtakesports and Retweet “pinned tweet” Social Media: Follow Dan Everett On Twitter: @everett_sm Everett Sports Marketing Website: http://everettsm.com/ To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 10 features Jason Romano Sports Spectrum Podcast Host and former ESPN Senior Producer. We have reached another milestone with this episode as this is Episode 10. Never had set expectations and I still don’t Just trying to provide the 3 c’s… content, content, content   Weekly Words of Wisdom: “We know what a person thinks, not when he tells us what he thinks, but by his actions.” Nobel prize winning novelist Isaac Singer.

Episode 9 features Zach McCrite former sports talk radio host in Louisville, KY for 1570 The Zone, ESPN 93.9 The Ticket, 101 ESPN in St. Louis, MO, 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma City, OK and he also started the podcast, “The Podcast About Sports Radio”. Amazed that we’re already 9 episodes into this podcasting journey. Learned a lot and connected with so many people with many more episodes lined up for the future If you missed any episodes, please visit the website richtakeonsports.com and you can keep up with the latest news from us by following us on Twitter @richtakesports And our guest this week heading into Father’s Day is Zach McCrite also known as the Big EZ. Weekly Words of Wisdom: Life doesn’t come with an instruction book.  That’s why we have fathers.  

Episode 8 features Daina Falk, founder and creator of Hungry Fan which is a sports lifestyle brand that curates the sports fan’s Game Day experience. From food & drink to gear, traditions, Game Day culture, and an insider’s look at teams & athletes, Hungry Fan makes a Game Day gathering as exciting as the game itself. Daina has a unique connection with sports and you will know that connection if you know the last Falk and her dad a legendary sports agent. Follow on Twitter: @richtakesports Follow on Instagram: @richtakeonsports Provide feedback via email at richmond@richtakeonsports.com or visit richtakeonsports.com. Daina shares that her married life isn’t much different than before but things are going well. She tells the story how she really started her sports and food love in the womb as her parents were in Europe with some of her dad’s clients and her mom was pregnant. She played soccer and mostly tennis growing up but her high school was not a big sports oriented high school and she wanted to experience a true sports fan environment so she applied to one school – Duke and became a devoted Cameron Crazy. Her dad, David Falk, gave her advice not to follow his footsteps by becoming a sports agent and she took his advice but wanted to continue with a career in sports.  Her love for food and sports lead her to create and found Hungry Fan. This led to her publishing her first cookbook, The Hungry Fan’s GameDay Cookbook which incorporates many of her own recipes with contributions from many of the biggest names in sports today. Sports for her has been a way for her to connect with people across the US and she truly believes she has a connection or some in common with everyone.  Her words of wisdom: No just means not at this time.  

Episode 7 features Pat Duquette, UMASS-Lowell Men’s Basketball Head Coach and we are back this week with another episode. I am your host, Richmond Weaver and glad you’re listening through whatever format that might be and thanks for being an investor by investing your time to listen.   This week it’s my pleasure to welcome in a friend from my early days of coaching and that’s Pat Duquette who is currently the head coach for the men’s basketball team at UMass-Lowell. Early on I’ve talked about one of the unique abilities of sports and that’s how it can connect people. No truer than with Pat and me. We met in 1993 when we both were struggling for any big coaching breaks and we met when were both interning for the New Jersey Nets.  This was the same time that I was an assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson University and in all honesty, I was basically interning there as well… Visa was my checking account. How many of you know what I’m talking about?  I eventually started doing some ticket sales for the Nets and that helped make ends meet to a certain degree but we were both just trying to make it.  We really didn’t know how but we didn’t care… just give me a shot.  That was our motto.  And you know what that’s how we connected.  I’m a southern boy and he’s born and raised in the Northeast and we connected and we’re still friends today. We were both basically on the same team as we rooted for each other to make it and we were connected because of one thing… that’s sports. It’s crazy how sports can bring people together like that but it does. Now we stayed in contact for several years after our days in NJ together through the coaching circuit but as in life there’s drift and contact can fade and it did with us but that connection was still there. When I decided to start this crazy thing called Rich Take On Sports, one of the first people I reached out to was Pat.  We hadn’t talked in 10 plus years and do you know one of the first things he said… “How can I help?” That’s just the type of person he is… putting others first and it’s easy to see why guys like playing for him and why parents trust him. He’s now entering his 5th season at UMass-Lowell after spending 3 years as the associate head coach at Northeastern with Bill Coen and before that he spent 13 years at Boston College with Al Skinner climbing his way from administrative assistant to associate head coach during those 13 years. Here’s the interview with Pat Duquette. Had a great childhood with 5 kids in his family. Parents were fully supportive of sports and all played multiple sports and it was the cycle of life. Had older siblings to not only teach you about sports but also to compete with. Older siblings provided support. Played in the neighborhood with other kids playing in the street and the quiet street turned into a sports complex. Played multiple sports through all high school and attended a small high school and the school needed kids to play multiple sports to field the different teams. Attended Williams College, Division III to play basketball. Wasn’t sure what path to go while in college but watched cousin and brother climb the ranks in baseball but wanted to do it in basketball. Great experience with New Jersey Nets but wanted more involvement in basketball operations and jumped to Centenary College. Since there wasn’t a minor league system for basketball he really only wanted to coach and didn’t want athletic administration. Lived with his brother in Port St. Lucie and waited tables while his brother was working for the Mets.  Then got a call from Dave Paulsen who became the head coach at St. Lawrence and it was a great experience because he was given so much responsibility as an assistant. After St. Lawrence, he moved to St. Michael’s a Division II school and was able to get his Master’s and was also a substitute teacher at the local school and he loved it....

Episode 6 features James Trapp, Former NFL Cornerback with the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens. Our guest in this episode is former Oakland Raider and Super Bowl champ with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl James Trapp. Now in order for you to stay current and not miss any future episodes you can subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, find episodes on Stitcher and all of this can be easily found on our website richtakeonsports.com. Also, the biggest compliment you can provide is by sharing this podcast with others and also providing feedback on iTunes by rating and reviewing and there’s going to be more details coming soon about some exciting free giveaways that we’re going to be doing for you listeners that provide a review on iTunes. We can also connect via Twitter: @richtakesports Or you can email me: richmond@richtakeonsports.com   This week in the Rich Spotlight our guest is James Trapp most notably known now as Minister James Trapp on Twitter as his life has unfolded into serving others. James’s story is one of how talent can take you far greater than you can ever imagine through God given athletic ability but also the destruction that can occur when you become so self-absorbed in yourself. James was a stand-out cornerback at Clemson University and was selected in the 3rd Round of the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He was also a world class sprinter and a two-sport athlete at Clemson from 1989-1993 where in 1992 he was the 200 meter indoor NCAA Champion and won 2 gold medals in international competitions and was selected as an alternate for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. James was not a track guy playing football. He was a football player that just happened to run track and ultimately reaching the pinnacle in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens by winning Super Bowl 35 in 2000 and you’ll understand what I mean after hearing his story. James’ journey started in Greenville, SC. Gives special recognition to Sam Wyche and his store because they gave him his first pair of football cleats. Played all sports in the neighborhood. Football was a part of his life because it was a get away from the life that he was living. You become cocky once you realize that you’re good at sports. Started playing football at 7 or 8.  Neighborhood vs. Neighborhood. Loved the physicality of football and become a sport that he really enjoyed. Baseball was too boring and basketball too many fouls. Moved out of South Carolina in Texas and Mom was in the military. In Fort Hood living in a new environment and ran track but did not play football. Moved to Oklahoma and started playing football and played QB. Very arrogant and cocky and the only thing that drove him was him. Played with Will Shields who is an NFL Hall of Famer and most of his coaching staff is still alive. Only players that could play were the ones that wanted to play at the next level. Coaches provide so much than just coaching. Knew he was better than everyone else in junior high school. Normally all kids from Lawton HS went to Oklahoma, however, Coach Switzer was not confident he would still be head coach and James actually want to go to Clemson and play for Coach Danny Ford. He was called a traitor by all of the people in Oklahoma when he signed with Clemson. Only ran track at Clemson because he couldn’t start on the football team as a freshman and he was very cocky on the track and he was a loud mouth. Had a to make a decision if he was going to really put in the effort to train more and better to compete against the best in the world. Changed his decision to fish only and the new training made the biggest difference. Started to make significant improvements and then made the Olympic team. Herman Moore torched him in a game. He knew he could play in the NFL and kept pushing forward and was kicked off

Episode 5 features guest Dan Radakovich, current Athletic Director for Clemson University. I’ve received some great feedback from last week’s episode with former NFL head coach with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sam Wyche and his story of the gift of life he received through organ donation as he received a heart transplant after the doctors only gave him a few hours to live.  Definitely, something you should listen too. The feedback means a lot so I welcome the opportunity to connect. Please follow me on Twitter: @richtakesports Email me: richmond@richtakeonsports.com And don’t forget to visit our website richtakeonsports.com and there you listen, download and even subscribe. Our guest this week is one of the most influential Athletic Director’s in all of sports and that’s Dan Radakovich, the current AD at Clemson University.  You’ll hear in his story that Clemson is not the only school he’s been associated with that has experienced some significant success.   Dan grew up in western PA outside of Pittsburgh in the steel mill section. Followed sports because it was a great time for the city of Pittsburgh with the Steelers and the Pirates. Played football growing up and had one sister and sports were not a big part of his family it was more of his passion. Attended Indiana University (PA) and later received his MBA from the University of Miami and there he eventually began his career in athletic administration after spending time in the business world. Had jobs at Long Beach State, University of South Carolina, American University, LSU, Georgia Tech which led him to become the 13th AD at Clemson University. Honored to be a part of the winning program at Clemson and with Coach Dabo Swinney.  Also very honored to be a part of the inaugural College Football Playoff Selection Committee. Weekly Words of Wisdom: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than one’s fear. The timid presume it is lack of fear that allows the brave to act when the timid do not. But to take action when one is not afraid is easy. To refrain when afraid is also easy. To take action regardless of fear is brave.”  – Ambrose Redmoon

Episode 4 features former NFL Head Coach for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sam Wyche shares his journey into sports that started with the competition between him and his younger brother.  His brother, Bubba was actually the better athlete however, Sam was still able to walk-on at Furman University and played QB. His first entry to coaching football was as a graduate assistant at the University of South Carolina working with Lou Holtz who was a defensive backs coach.  This assignment was temporary as he still wanted to play and eventually earned a position with the Cincinnati Bengals and ultimately played in a Super Bowl as a member of the Washington Redskins. After, he retired from playing Sam joined Bill Walsh’s staff in San Francisco as his top assistant and helped guide the 49er’s to a win in Super Bowl XVI.  His opportunity to be a head coach came shortly after that Super Bowl win as he accepted the position at Indiana University.  Only staying one year, Sam was convinced to become the Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. At Cincinnati, Sam led the Bengals to one of the most potent offenses in league history at the time and earned a spot in Super Bowl XXIII against his best friend Bill Walsh who was still with the San Francisco 49er’s.  A narrow loss in the last 35 seconds still haunts Sam today and he eventually moved to Tampa Bay to become their head coach. Turning his career to broadcasting, Sam enjoyed the opportunity of working with the likes of Marv Albert and Kevin Harlan however, a medical malpractice issue which damaged is laryngeal nerve ended his broadcasting career. Sam experienced another medical issue and was only given hours to live before he received a heart transplant in September 2016.  Today, Sam is trying to create public awareness for organ donation. The Weekly Words of Wisdom: If you do not go after what you want, you’ll never have it.  If you never ask, the answer will always be no.  If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place.

Episode 3 is the third episode of the trio of episodes for the official launch of Rich Take On Sports. Following the same format as Episode 2, this episode features current Kansas City Chiefs, former Bowling Green and University of Alabama WR Gehrig Dieter. Gehrig gets to share his recent engagement news to Meg Kraft and his proposal plans. Gehrig then shares his earliest memories of playing sports and how important his brothers were in shaping his sports career. After setting the national record for the most receiving yards in a single game at 437 in high school, he decides to attend SMU and ultimately transfers to Bowling Green State University.  After battling injuries in his first year, Gehrig bounces back with a stellar season with over 1,000 receiving yards. After transferring to the University of Alabama as a graduate transfer, Gehrig is now setting his sites on the NFL.  

Episode 2 is part of the trio of episodes for the official launch of Rich Take On Sports.  This episode is a modified format from Episode 1 and features legendary men’s basketball head coach Cliff Ellis. Coach Ellis has accumulated over 800 career victories and currently is the head coach for the men’s basketball team at Coastal Carolina. His journey starts as a Junior High School basketball coach and ultimately leads 4 teams to the NCAA Tournament with multiple appearances in the Sweet Sixteen.

Welcome to the official debut and launch with Episode 1 of Rich Take On Sports.  This date, May 19th, 2017 is also Richmond’s 46th birthday. Former All-Pro linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and All-American, Levon Kirkland is the guest in this episode and shares his journey from Lamar, SC to the NFL.  He describes certain coaches who helped him in his journey although his dad always provided words of wisdom. Weekly Words of Wisdom: “If you tell the truth then you don’t have to remember anything.”  

Preview Episode to formally introduce this podcast and provide more details about this podcast: What is this Podcast, Who I Am, and What You Can Expect. My name is Richmond Weaver and not different than many of you: Fell in love with sports at an early age, sports helped shape and define our character, provided us an escape and hope, it united and connected us to other people. I graduated from Clemson University in 1993 and followed my dream of coaching college basketball spending three years as an assistant coach at the Division I level.  I recently celebrated 20 years of marriage and have three teenage kids (2 boys and a girl). Sports has been an integral part of my life and that’s why I started this podcast.  It’s an opportunity to talk more than just sports headlines and scores.  We’ll explore the impact of sports in our daily lives and life lessons that can be learned from sports. Sports is closely connected with life and not it’s own silo and that’s why this podcast is referred to the Sports Podcast with Life and transcends many barriers while uniting and connecting people in a powerful way. Official release of upcoming episodes is May 19th which is my 46th birthday. Visit www.richtakeonsports.com for more information.