The Dad Ball Podcast

The Dad Ball Podcast

A podcast about sports, coaching, being a dad, and trying to make everything and everyone around you better. We all want to be the best coach, player, dad, and person we can. It is my mission to be all of that, and help as many people as I can do the exact same thing.

Episodes

June 22, 2025 11 mins

When you think of football dynasty families, you probably go right to the Mannings. I want you to think about the Rivers family, too.


It started with Steve Rivers at Mississippi State, was made famous by Philip at NC State and the NFL, and now rests in the hands of Gunnar, a 5-star prospect with offers before his junior high school season.


An extra bonus, a small reflection on the Stanley Cup Finals, and why the Panthers mi...

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One of the things that happens when you become a dad is...you start thinking about other dads. For me, that means I'm thinking about famous sports dads.


It's a brand new segment here, maybe even a theme? I'm telling the story of one dad who has made an impact on the sports world, and trying not to get choked up while doing it!


Follow along the podcast @thesportchancepod across all platforms and over of The Sport...

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Any day now, I'll have my own child to start teaching lessons to, and I think I've narrowed down the 4 I'll want to share the most with my son or daughter. After all of my own experience I hope that I'll have figured out a way to explain everything better for them.


You can follow along @sportchancepod @MatthewMaratea and @mmaratea22 across the various platforms.

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September 20, 2024 16 mins

The subtitle episode could be "Because I'm having a kid", as Matt explores how hindsight mixed with looking towards the future has helped him reach a newer, clearer, perspective on his sports career.

There's also lamentations about the tragic death of the Gaudreau brothers and their connection to the South Jersey hockey community.


Follow along for future happier episodes @sportschancepod @MatthewMaratea and...

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In this episode Matthew draws inspiration from the Olympic hopefuls and translates it to high school sports, somehow.


He also talks about how coaching always provides new insights, even for people who consider themselves experts.


Socials

Podcast @sportchancepod

Personal X @MatthewMaratea Instagram @mmaratea22


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The US Open always brings golf to the forefront of my mind! I muse on golf being for everyone and nobody, as well as what are the best casual sports skills to have, and the hype around the NCAA football video game, and how important this game is to the landscape of the the sports gaming world.

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The WNBA is all the hype, and they're making a choice with Caitlin Clark that will influence the other major female sports, right or wrong.

Vintage ESPN needs to make a comeback. Life isn't the same without being able to see World's Strongest Man reruns at any time of day.

Also Matt goes on record with his bandwagon NHL Stanley Cup playoffs rule, and how fantasy sports forces fans to think more about the whole athlete...

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The Flyers couldn't make the playoffs, but the Predators did, and are facing a tough matchup in Vancouver. Speaking of Nashville, it isn't a four for four city, but it certainly has plenty of sports to keep a fan occupied.


Also I break down my first live MLS experience, a Philadelphia Union win over the Nashville SC in Geodis Park.


All this and more can be found on all the accounts @MatthewMaratea and @sportchan...

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One of the best days of the year is Opening Day for Major League Baseball. This year it might be a touch tainted by gambling, but it is still a special day.


Matt also talks about the idea of dealing with the end of a season that doesn't end the way you want, and allowing yourself to really feel it.


Check out the socials @sportchancepod @MatthewMaratea and @mmaratea22 everywhere for more and for what's next!

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Competition in sports is one of the last great teachers we have for young people who need lessons in dealing with adversity, and dealing with success. Matt dives into the some of the lessons taught there, touches on the Nikita Kucherov All Star skills performance, and gives his picks for Super Bowl LVIII


If you want more, follow along on Twitter and Instagram @thesportchancepod follow Matthew at @MatthewMaratea on Twitter and ...

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There's always a reason to go, to change. Sometimes it's best to stay the course. Cutter Gauthier provided an example of a lack of loyalty in forcing the Flyers organization to trade him. The trick with loyalty is knowing when to stay in order to maximize your possibility for growth.


Twitter - @MatthewMaratea

Instagram -@mmaratea22

Twitter - @sportchancepod

Instagram @sportchancepod

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September 1, 2023 5 mins
Interlude part 2! Still building and rebranding towards a fresh start but here’s another interlude with some thoughts on consistency and trying to be better at it! It is a big weakness in some ways for me but also a strength in others!
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August 15, 2023 4 mins
I moved! Lots of details to talk about, and it’s all coming down the road. Simple facts are this. I moved to Nashville a month ago, and in the process I learned and leaned on two elements of sports to help me get more comfortable in my new home. This is a new type of segment called the interludes. Tiny stand alone pods that help cover gaps or focus quickly on a small topic!
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Welcome to this 1st time interview edition with Carter and Steve from Xenopucks.

I've talked Xenopucks before, because it's the best off ice puck I've used, and it moves on every surface. This time we've got the guys themselves, Carter and Steve, the two driving forces for Xenopucks answering all the questions I've got. We dive into how they got started, tips for using them, practice tactics, who might benefit ...

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We're talking about the Sixers lack of a draft and the Flyers full 10 picks on this episode! It's a rundown style of who is coming into both organizations and what we know about those guys so far.


Along with that we'll be opening some NHL Pro Set cards from the 91-92 run, and drinking The Grove, a citrus shandy from Cape May Brewing Co.

As always if you wanna follow along with all of the action find me on the soci...

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June 14, 2023 32 mins

The Sixers found their man in Nick Nurse. Good start right? Speaking of starts, Danny Briere and Keith Jones made their first big move, in a multi team-multi player deal sending Ivan Provorov packing. They also have an important draft coming up and I take a look at two of the safer options for the Flyers to pick, plus the Phillies are in bounce back mode. Finally we've got product reviews and a brief tease of new!? ideas.

The ...

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The Sixers have brought the blues to the Philadelphia sports scene. Their Game 7 loss in the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs brought disappointment, and a quick firing of Doc Rivers. The Flyers though did their best to start their own journey of rebirth, bringing in new management with Keith Jones as President of Hockey Operations, and Danny Briere as GM.

The beer of the week is Violet, You're Turning Violet! a farmhouse ale fro...

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The Flyers are finished (thankfully), the Phillies are just getting started, the Sixers are trying to catch fire in the playoffs, and the Eagles are making record QB contract deals.

I've also added to my card collection and hit Brotherly Love card show, and got my fiancé in on the action.

The beer making it all so much better is Neshaminy Creek Pushing Daisies, a kolsch for spring that really hits the spot.


If you want ...

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March 15, 2023 29 mins

A classic 4 for 4 rundown on this episode! The Eagles are trying to rebuild a Super Bowl team after coming up just short. Who is staying, who is going and are they poised to repeat? The Phillies might be in for a hot start thanks to their 8 players in the World Baseball Classic, but will that impact the dog days? The Sixers are playing like they're gunning for a #1 seed and Joel Embiid is playing like and MVP. Will they follow cham...

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February 9, 2023 27 mins

The Birds are back in the Bowl! The Philadelphia Eagles facing the Kansas City Chiefs, and Matt runs through far too many prop bets. Plus NBA trade deadline for the Sixers, and checking in the Flyers post all star break. The Phillies made a move just to show they have a heartbeat, but it's February. Baseball is sleeping. However some '91 O'Pee-Chee baseball cards are finally out of their pack! 

Today's beer is Nugget Nectar. A...

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