The Approach Shot

For most folks, it's the holidays that brings the greatest joy of the year.
For The Approach Shot, it's the time we get to spend with the amazing SCOTT HAMILTON.

One can't help but feel the joy he brings to every conversation, whether it's talking bout how he has fought cancer for 50 years now or doing a riff from his favorite song.

He honors his Mom with his tenacity, he gives us all tears of joy with his stories (the Steven T...

If you thought you heard some great stories in Part One of our conversation with TIM BRANDO, just wait until you listen to Part Deux.

We talk more about Timmy B's dad Hub and collecting Red Chief bottle caps back in the day.  Tim talks about being a boy and wearing a tux and how he'd sing and dance with his Dad.

Tim finally gets around to talking about the video of he and Spencer Tillman dancing and how that video went viral (...

Every once is a while, our conversation with a guest is so engaging that we keep the mic hot and just keep rolling.

That's the case here with Tim Brando (also known as Timmy B; Timmy Toe Tap and more).

We never wanted it to end.  So, rather than cut out any great storytelling, we're presenting our conversation with Tim in two parts.  This is Part 1, with the six pack and golf talk in our next episode.

Don't miss stories o...

Laughs? Check

More laughs? You betcha

Will you have to put the show on pause so you don't miss anything while laughing?  Uh huh

But Red Grant also has a serious side, which caused him to run for mayor of Washington DC, and with no funding from any political party, almost won.  He cares deeply and this didn't turn into party politics, but you have to respect a comedian who went door-to-door and tried to cause change.

Mostl...

Being a professional baseball player means the world to Dodgers pitcher Darren Dreifort. It's given him a life that he and his family are grateful for every day.
But being a professional dad and a loving husband? That gives DD the kind of joy that only a father of 4 and a happy husband can experience.
Sure, closing games at Dodger Stadium, and pitching over 175 innings three consecutive years with double digit win totals...

Does he fly like Superman?  Well, sure, we have it on video.

Is he a great girl Dad?  Absolutely, ask his friend Mike Yastrzemski.

Did he bring passion and love for the game to every game in which he played?  His smile would tell you so.

Is he a World Series champion?  You know he is!

Was he called "Spiderman" because of his defensive prowess?  You betcha

Whether he was playing for the A's or the O's, the A...

Does Stefan Caray's style come from great grandfather Harry Caray?  No

Does he sound like grandfather Skip?  Not exactly

More like Dad Chip?  Kinda sorta

Stefan Caray is no nepo baby.  He's his own man carving out his own niche, bringing his unique style to every broadcast.  He is the future of baseball broadcasting, with a tip of the hat to the past.  His youthful energy mixes with his old soul to bri...

When you grow up in Sacramento and play college ball in L.A; you don't exactly dream of playing in cold weather, in a city that is the quintessential "small market". But the warmth GEOFF JENKINS felt (and still feels) from the Milwaukee Brewers organization is enough to keep the fire lit. Named to the Brewers Wall of Honor, Geoff had the 4th most home runs in Brewers history, only behind Robin Yount, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder...

At 88 years old, you'd think NFL Hall of Famer RON MIX would be slowing down a bit, but his competitive fire still burns brightly. The NFL hall of Famer and 8x AFL All Star and AFL champion uses his experience and cunning to fight on behalf of former NFL players as President of the PFRPA (Pro Football Retired Players Association), where he works with other former greats like Jack Youngblood, Mike Singletary, Ahman Green to name a ...

Subjects we got to cover with JOHN SMOLTZ:

Today's game (and why pitchers are getting hurt more often)? CHECK
His love and respect for the man who gave his the nickname Marmaduke? YOU BETCHA
Game 7 of the 1991 World Series? OF COURSE
His favorite junk food? WHY NOT

Smoltzie was 100% authentic, funny, determined, and entertaining as could be on this All Star episode of the 2026 Communicator Award winning podcast The A...

You know how they say everything is better in Texas?  Well, at 6'6", 338 FLOZELL ADAMS had the SIZE to be one of the greatest offensive lineman of his time.  But it's not JUST the size that worked.  He always had a plan, whether it was to knock the defender on his rear end, or to finesse his opponent, "Flo" reveals his secret to success- listening!

This episode isn't just power and performance; far from it.  Flo...

Bryce Paup's toughness comes from his years of being looked over, played at the wrong position and then BAM! everything clicked.  But don't think he just fell into the right situation.  His toughness comes from the right attitude, work ethic and doing the right thing over and over again.  He'd call himself "old school" if old school means "you reap what you sew."

Sure, he has a great sense of humor, and is a proud, p...

Great story about his friendship with Betty White?  You bet!

Golf with some great celebrities?  Yup!

How Dick Clark gave him great life advice?  Oh yea!

Heartwarming stories of rescuing and helping animals?  Right here!

Amazing, life changing stories about some of the subjects on "Cheaters"?  You better believe it!

TOMMY HABEEB is a one of the great television hosts of this generation.  Of course, he r...

Do we ask Dave how he created the original PHANATIC persona? You bet!
Talk about his relationship with Philly fans? Of course!
His "relationship" with Tommy Lasorda? You better believe it

We also talk about how the national media has dubbed Dave the "hero of happiness", and his ability to show how humor in the workplace can add productivity and slow turnover to small and large companies.

And golf? Oh does Dave love his go...

We ask Joel Hanrahan:

What happened on your first major league at bat?
Was there really a game in which you were the winning pitcher, while not being on the winning team's roster?
Who used to be your BP pitcher growing up?
Did you really go out and eat 20 chicken wings the day before you pitched?
Ever had a hole in one?

So many subjects, so little time, so we put the hammer down and got JOEL HANRAHAN to tell us ever...

If you're a MIAMI DOLPHINS fan, we go "All Phin" on this episode of The Approach Shot.
All Pro KIM BOKAMPER, who played his entire career with the Dolphins, has stayed with the Dolphins family on the field, in the booth and in his heart for 50 years now.

We talk Marino, Shula, Mercury Morris, OJ McDuffie, the Marks Brothers, the amazing defenses and the great offensive lines. We also discuss his friendship with Joe Theismann, ...

He made a living as a "part time" hitter that came of the bench and was the back-up first baseman for the Cardinals, Nats, Braves and Rockies.

But MATT ADAMS' impact was far greater than a bench player.  In a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Matt hit a go-ahead HR in the 14th, and when the Reds tied the game, he hit ANOTHER home run in the 16th, this time to win it.

In Game 4 of the 2014 NLDS, Matt took Clayton Kershaw deep t...

Hilarious and thoughtful, poetic yet humble, this episode with GORDON CLAPP is so much more than NYPD BLUE.

Sure, he won an Emmy for his role as Detective Greg Medavoy, and had a cast of great actors like Dennis Franz, Jimmy Smits and so many more to work with, but Gordon seems even more comfortable on stage doing a one man show, or living his best life doing theater in his beloved New England.

If you listen to podcasts to smile an...

It's gooooooooooood!  That goes for many of Nick's field goals and extra points.  It's also true for this episode of The Approach Shot.

The man who's been an All Pro, tied for the NFL scoring lead and led the NFL in field goal percentage the last THREE years running, also talks family, golf and what's next for the man they call "Folk Hero".

Fingers crossed that we get to watch him on the gridiron again in 2026.

This is a ...