Cut Traded Fired Retired
We follow them on social media. We pay money to watch them play or coach. We check headlines for breaking news and rumors about them. Professional athletes and coaches are the best at what they do. They are also people. People with emotions, self-doubt, insecurities, family obligations and setbacks. They have to deal with tough times and dark moments just like we do. Hosted by Susie Wargin, a 30-year Radio & TV broadcaster and Emmy Award winning sportscaster, who sits down with some of the biggest names in Denver sports. Hall of Famers, Ring of Famers, Super Bowl winners (and losers) and many who have reinvented themselves in retirement. The conversations feature insightul upbringings, emotional and impactful stories as well as words of wisom on how to keep moving forward. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. Please follow, download, rate and review. For more information visit CTFRPodcast.com. To learn more about Susie's career as a Realtor (she would love to help you!), visit SusieWargin.com. Thank you for listening!
Episodes
July 24, 2024 • 41 mins
His first trip to Colorado came when the Broncos drafted him 31st overall in 1983. Prior to that, Mark Cooper had spent nearly his entire life in Florida, growing up playing football and excelling on the offensive line at the University of Miami. When Coop got to Denver, he was reunited with a guy he met briefly a few months earlier when both played in the East-West Shrine Bowl: John Elway.
Mark’s four years with the Broncos we...
Mark’s four years with the Broncos we...
Mark as Played
July 9, 2024 • 57 mins
Orlando Franklin’s unconventional path to the NFL started in Jamaica. He was born to a single mom who wanted a better life for her and her sons. She applied for Visa’s in three countries and only one accepted her: Canada. So, Orlando’s path went north.
His mom married, but then widowed when her husband tragically passed away. That life change put Orlando and his family in a women’s homeless shelter for a year. Next was Section 8 ...
His mom married, but then widowed when her husband tragically passed away. That life change put Orlando and his family in a women’s homeless shelter for a year. Next was Section 8 ...
Mark as Played
July 3, 2024 • 47 mins
She went to the Olympic Trials for swimming when she was 16. She became a pro triathlete after she graduated from Yale. She met her husband (also a pro triathlete) when he sat next to her on a plane. She designed the first running skirt and created a business that empowered women to feel amazing in their skin. She also became a mom.
Nicole DeBoom is always smiling, which may lead one to believe she’s only encountered positives in...
Nicole DeBoom is always smiling, which may lead one to believe she’s only encountered positives in...
Mark as Played
June 19, 2024 • 40 mins
Most athletes walk away from sports because they “get too old.” The opposite can happen in the sport of golf and Matt Schalk is a prime example.
Growing up in Boulder, Matt was a baseball guy. Until his dad won a game of gin at the local country club and the losing golf pro didn’t have the money to pay up. So, Matt’s dad bartered and got the pro to give golf lessons to his sons. One lesson and Matt was hooked.
He kept up the ga...
Growing up in Boulder, Matt was a baseball guy. Until his dad won a game of gin at the local country club and the losing golf pro didn’t have the money to pay up. So, Matt’s dad bartered and got the pro to give golf lessons to his sons. One lesson and Matt was hooked.
He kept up the ga...
Mark as Played
June 11, 2024 • 46 mins
Ask anyone in the circle of baseball about Marc Johnson and chances are they either have a tie to him or know someone who does. That’s because for more than 50 years, Coach Johnson led one of the best baseball programs in the state of Colorado. A program that produced more than 50 professional players and several that became household names.
He grew up in Nebraska and followed his father’s passion for the diamond. He played bas...
He grew up in Nebraska and followed his father’s passion for the diamond. He played bas...
Mark as Played
June 4, 2024 • 41 mins
Despite the fact he was a very accomplished swimmer in high school, Sean Moran’s dream was to play professional football. Which he did.
Sean graduated from Overland High School in Aurora and headed north to play for a coach he thought was perfect for his college career at Colorado State University: Earl Bruce. Unfortunately, Coach Bruce was fired after Sean’s first year and he considered transferring. He was asked to be on and ad...
Sean graduated from Overland High School in Aurora and headed north to play for a coach he thought was perfect for his college career at Colorado State University: Earl Bruce. Unfortunately, Coach Bruce was fired after Sean’s first year and he considered transferring. He was asked to be on and ad...
Mark as Played
May 28, 2024 • 46 mins
Growing up in Washington, Tyler Brayton played a lot of sports. His grandfather was a baseball coach and he thought he was destined for the diamond. That was until his lanky body got coordinated and he started to excel at football in high school.
He was recruited by a number of schools and felt drawn to Boulder where Rick Neuheisel was the head coach. After his first season, Coach Neuheisel left and Gary Barnett was hired. Normal...
He was recruited by a number of schools and felt drawn to Boulder where Rick Neuheisel was the head coach. After his first season, Coach Neuheisel left and Gary Barnett was hired. Normal...
Mark as Played
May 21, 2024 • 44 mins
Growing up in Cheraw, South Carolina, Fisher DeBerry spent his time playing multiple sports: football, basketball, baseball and track. In high school, he was All-State in football and baseball. He’ll try to tell you that’s because there wasn’t much competition. Highly unlikely.
Fisher got a small scholarship to play football and baseball at Wofford College. He also worked a few jobs to pay for school as well as enlisted in Amry R...
Fisher got a small scholarship to play football and baseball at Wofford College. He also worked a few jobs to pay for school as well as enlisted in Amry R...
Mark as Played
May 14, 2024 • 33 mins
It would have been easy to walk away from the NFL after being released over and over again. Afterall, Jordan Norwood could head into the real world with his degree from Penn State and find something right? But he didn’t. Instead, he used his down time to stay in shape, rehab injures, plan for the future and work in philanthropy. Today he’s reaping the rewards of his planning and charity work and has a Super Bowl ring because he tou...
Mark as Played
May 7, 2024 • 40 mins
Many think he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Afterall, he’s one of only four defensive players on the NFL 1970’s All-Decade team not in Canton and the only corner back on that same list without a bust. But to Louis Wright, all that matters is what his teammates thought of him.
He grew up in California and gravitated to track and football in high school. He spent one year at Arizona State where he was moved from his h...
He grew up in California and gravitated to track and football in high school. He spent one year at Arizona State where he was moved from his h...
Mark as Played
April 30, 2024 • 42 mins
The path for this episode’s guest started in Wyoming where he was convinced, like so many other football players, that basketball was his ticket to pro sports. Wyoming basketball worked fine for Clint Oldenburg, but to hit the next level, football became his ticket.
He chose Colorado State University, where Sonny Lubick moved him from tight end to the offensive line. He wasn’t crazy about the switch, but didn’t argue because it gav...
He chose Colorado State University, where Sonny Lubick moved him from tight end to the offensive line. He wasn’t crazy about the switch, but didn’t argue because it gav...
Mark as Played
April 23, 2024 • 66 mins
Tony Boselli’s goal growing up was to play high school football for Sam Pagano. He attended Coach Pagano’s infamous Mile High Football camps and dreamt of running onto Knight’s field at Fairview High School. His home school was Boulder High, so he told his dad he had to figure out a way into Fairview, or he would go live with his aunt & uncle across town. Tony’s dad figured it out.
Once he was under Coach Pagano’s tutelage, T...
Once he was under Coach Pagano’s tutelage, T...
Mark as Played
April 16, 2024 • 43 mins
Growing up in Indiana, Matt Mauck’s favorite sport was basketball, followed by football, then baseball. He received some scholarship offers to play basketball but committed to Michigan State for football under Nick Saban. Then came spring of his senior year: he was drafted by the Cubs, his baseball team won a state championship and he was named Mr. Baseball. Matt leaned into the diamond.
He played 3 seasons in the minor leagues a...
He played 3 seasons in the minor leagues a...
Mark as Played
April 9, 2024 • 38 mins
He grew up in New York and went to college at the University of Maryland. Billy Van Heusen was all east coast until he stepped off a plane in Denver in 1968 and saw the Front Range for the first time. His goal as an undrafted free agent became not just to make the Broncos roster, but to stay in Denver. He did both.
In 2019, Billy was named to the Broncos All-Time Top 100 Team. He played 9 seasons in Denver and was a top 10 NFL pu...
In 2019, Billy was named to the Broncos All-Time Top 100 Team. He played 9 seasons in Denver and was a top 10 NFL pu...
Mark as Played
April 2, 2024 • 38 mins
He grew up in Pennsylvania with two older brothers and played in just about every sport. Eventually football became Charlie Adam’s bread and butter – he could catch and run. Skills that served him well as a wide receiver and a return specialist. Which is why he was named All-Pennsylvania Special Teams in high school.
Charlie took a scholarship at Hofstra University where he figured he would see some action with their offense. He...
Charlie took a scholarship at Hofstra University where he figured he would see some action with their offense. He...
Mark as Played
March 27, 2024 • 48 mins
He came from a high school in Kentucky that produced a number of well-known athletes, like Steve Finley, George Wilson and Kurt Barber. Terry Shumpert thought basketball at Paducah Tilghman High School would take him to the next level, but a knee injury turned his focus to the diamond. Shump could hit, was fast around the bases and had quite the glove on defense.
He took his baseball skills to the University of Kentucky where he wa...
He took his baseball skills to the University of Kentucky where he wa...
Mark as Played
March 19, 2024 • 67 mins
He started playing football as a junior at Smoky Hill High School. He made varsity as a senior. Chase Vaughn turned some heads in that short time and received three small offers at Division II and NAIA schools. He accepted one for Adams State and was there for 2 years until CSU-Pueblo started a football program. He took a leap of faith and transferred. Good move.
In his first game, Chase had 4 ½ sacks and when he graduated, he he...
In his first game, Chase had 4 ½ sacks and when he graduated, he he...
Mark as Played
March 12, 2024 • 41 mins
In 1976 (when the Olympics were easy to watch on one over-the-air channel), Tanya Haave got inspired by a sport featuring women for the first time: basketball. Watching Team USA that year would lead her around the world.
At Evergreen High School, Tanya was a standout in both basketball and volleyball. In 1980 she was so dominate, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame created a female selection to their High School Athlete of the Yea...
At Evergreen High School, Tanya was a standout in both basketball and volleyball. In 1980 she was so dominate, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame created a female selection to their High School Athlete of the Yea...
Mark as Played
March 5, 2024 • 35 mins
Growing up in Hawaii, his dream was to play football at Notre Dame like his dad. That dream was crushed when the Irish sent him a rejection letter. Brian Cabral then turned to a school where he would spend decades of his life.
He was a stellar linebacker and team captain for the University of Colorado. Nearly 50 years after he played, Brian’s name is still on the top 20 list of the Buffs all-time tacklers. A list that also inclu...
He was a stellar linebacker and team captain for the University of Colorado. Nearly 50 years after he played, Brian’s name is still on the top 20 list of the Buffs all-time tacklers. A list that also inclu...
Mark as Played
February 27, 2024 • 45 mins
His small Ohio town didn’t offer football until the 9th grade. Because of that, Randy Gradishar fancied himself more as a basketball player because he’d spent far more time on the court than the gridiron. Thankfully college coaches didn’t feel the same way.
Randy was courted by a number of colleges, which caught him off guard because he had never planned on attending college. His parents couldn’t afford it and he figured he would s...
Randy was courted by a number of colleges, which caught him off guard because he had never planned on attending college. His parents couldn’t afford it and he figured he would s...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
The Podium: An NBC Olympic and Paralympic podcast. Join us for insider coverage during the intense competition at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the run-up to the Opening Ceremony, we’ll bring you deep into the stories and events that have you know and those you'll be hard-pressed to forget.
In The Village will take you into the most exclusive areas of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to explore the daily life of athletes, complete with all the funny, mundane and unexpected things you learn off the field of play. Join Elizabeth Beisel as she sits down with Olympians each day in Paris.
Listen to the latest news from the 2024 Olympics.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the 33rd Olympic Games and you can follow Paris Summer Games to stay up to date on all things Olympics. We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Paris Summer Games so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.