When two Dallas sports radio legends sit down, you know it’s going to be good. Norm Hitzges pulls up a chair with none other than Mike Rhyner—the “Old Gray Wolf” himself—for a wide-ranging conversation that’s equal parts nostalgia, sports therapy, and rock-and-roll storytelling.
They dive into the Rangers’ improbable flirtation with the playoffs, whether the Cowboys will ever unclench their grip on mediocrity, and if the Mavericks’ chemistry experiment with Kyrie and Luka has any chance of cooking. Norm presses Mike on the big questions—like why casino gambling in Texas is still a mirage and whether walking away from The Ticket was bittersweet or just the right time to leave the party.
But it’s not all sports: we get the origin story of the “Old Gray Wolf,” tales of Gordon Keith weaponizing pet names, and how a drummer became the frontman of his own band. This is two Hall of Fame radio guys swapping stories, comparing scars, and proving once again why Dallas sports talk has always been a little louder, funnier, and more colorful than anywhere else.
So pour a drink, grab a steak (Bob’s, obviously), and settle in—because Norm and Rhyner are still at the top of their game.
Chapters
0:00 – Norm sets the stage and introduces Mike Rhyner
2:11 – Rangers: contenders, pretenders, or just amusing us all?
4:35 – Cowboys 30 years without an NFC Championship: will Jerry ever let go?
5:52 – Mavericks, Kyrie, Luka, and the NBA’s chemistry experiment
7:45 – Why casino gambling in Texas feels like Bigfoot sightings
8:37 – The birth of The Ticket and the legal pad that started it all
13:14 – Retiring from The Ticket: regret or relief?
14:07 – The true story behind “The Old Gray Wolf” nickname
17:22 – From drummer to lead singer: Mike’s music journey
18:48 – The Buzz Round: interviews, regrets, and career reflections
25:27 – The Tex Schramm story that left Norm shaking
32:52 – Rangers’ injury-ridden roster and Bruce Bochy’s steady hand
33:35 – Sponsor shout-outs and closing reflections
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