The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast

The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast

This is the podcast that dives deep into the stories of great teams that did not win a title. They came close, but as the old carnival barkers said, "No cigar!" Even though these teams never won the big one, they still deserve to be recognized. Whether the team was undone by poor timing, injuries, hubris or just plain bad luck, they all have a tale worth telling. In season 2, the theme is "Unknown Legends," I tell the stories of sports legends from around the world you don’t know but should, hence the title. In season 3, the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last" and I look at less famous firsts in the history of sports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

If You're Not First, You're Last! The Steagles

May 2, 2025 • 10 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of the WWII era merger between the NFL's Steelers and Eagles, a team affectionally called "The Steagles."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Ron LeFlore

April 25, 2025 • 8 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of Ron LeFlore, the first person to go from jail to becoming a Major League Baseball player, even making the All-Star Team.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Pete Gogolak

April 18, 2025 • 8 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story Hungarian-born Pete Gogolak, the first American football kicker to use the "soccer-style" approach, changing the kicking game forever.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Libby Riddles

April 11, 2025 • 6 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the arduous Iditarod sled dog race.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Pudge Heffelfinger

April 4, 2025 • 15 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of the dawn of professional sports in the United States, exemplified by one Pudge Heffelfinger.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Errol Tobias

March 28, 2025 • 11 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of Errol Tobias, the first black to represent South Africa in the face of apartheid playing the sport they value most as a nation: rugby.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Emlen Tunnell

March 21, 2025 • 9 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of Emlen Tunnell, the first African-American to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but that was only after becoming a war hero.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Akebono

March 14, 2025 • 10 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of American-born Chad Rowan, who would join the ancient world of sumo wrestling as Akebono and become the first foreign born grand champion, a yokozuna!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Jay Berwanger

March 7, 2025 • 7 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of Jay Berwanger, the first winner of the Heisman Trophy and the first player taken in the first NFL Draft.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Kathrine Switzer

February 28, 2025 • 11 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon...even though women were not allowed to run.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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If You're Not First, You're Last! Moses Malone

February 21, 2025 • 12 mins
In season 3 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "If You're Not First, You're Last!" In this episode, I tell the story of Moses Malone, the first basketball player in the modern era to go straight from high school to professional basketball. More than a trivia answer, he became a legend!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Unknown Legends - The Springbok Minyan

March 22, 2024 • 27 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of the "Springbok Minyan," the ten Jewish players who have represented the South African national rugby team, one of the best in the history of international rugby. There was an Afrikaner myth that a Jewish player was good luck to have on the team, but is it true? Listen to the last episode of the seaso...

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Unknown Legends - Urban Shocker - A Pitcher with a Cool Name and Cooler Story

March 15, 2024 • 11 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of Urban Shocker, a little-known Major League pitcher who had an awesome name, great success but who sadly died too young. One of the last legal spitball pitchers, he toiled in obscurity for the poor St. Louis Browns before finishing his career with the team that cast him away for no good reason at the s...

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Unknown Legends - The Morgan State University Lacrosse Team

March 8, 2024 • 18 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of the first lacrosse team at a historically black college/university: the Morgan State University Bears. This team began with a shoestring budget in1970, but would go on to upset several NCAA powerhouse teams before the team was dissolved in 1981 because of inadequate funding brought on by Title IX mand...

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Unknown Legends - The Designated Runner

March 1, 2024 • 7 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of the Herbert "Hurricane" Washington, a track star at Michigan State who became the only designated runner in Major League Baseball History for the dominant Oakland A's.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Unknown Legends - Pittsburgh, the City of Basketball Champions?

February 23, 2024 • 14 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of the Pittsburgh Pipers, the first champions of the American Basketball Association who did everything possible to not become a dynasty.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Unknown Legends - Is There a Goalie in the House?

February 16, 2024 • 7 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of two amateur goalies who get to play in NHL games as emergency goalies and have their moment in the sun (on the ice, really).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Unknown Legends - Let's Play Two!

February 9, 2024 • 11 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of Nate Colbert, the first star of the expansion Padres in the late 60's and early 70s who had the best hitting day ever, even besting his childhood idol for a day.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Unknown Legends - A Face in the Crowd

February 2, 2024 • 9 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of the English fanatical soccer (football) fan who gets put into a match for his favorite professional club, West Ham United.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Unknown Legends - The Small College Football Powerhouse

January 26, 2024 • 9 mins
In season 2 of The "Close But No Cigar" Sports Podcast the theme is "Unknown Legends" of sport. In this episode, I tell the story of the Plainfield (NJ) Teachers College, their star running back and their unprecedented 1941 season.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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