The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Inside the Parker: Opening Day Edition! Rob's World Series Prediction, Players to Watch, Betting on the Bases

Episode Date: April 2, 2021

This week on Inside the (Rob) Parker, Opening Day is here, and Rob kicks things off by explaining why he's so excited about the 2021, if Francisco Lindor is making a mistake by passing up on over a reported $300 million guaranteed, and makes his 2021 World Series prediction! Also, Analytics Stat of the Day, JR Gamble's Players to Watch, Betting on the Bases, and Rob's Ode to Opening Day.Guests: Former Cardinals Pitcher Daniel Ponce De Leon discusses his new book detailing his comeback from a career threatening line drive in a minor league game to making his big league debut, and previews he 2021 Cards. Author Cam Perron talks about his book that recounts his journey to developing relationships with some of the greatest Negro League stars.Click here to subscribe and download all of the latest Inside the Parker podcasts and follow Rob on Twitter!! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation. with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

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From the Berkshires to the Sound. From wherever you live in MLB, America, this is Inside the Parker. You give us 22 minutes and we'll give you the scoop on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame voter number 83. Rob Parker. All right, welcome into Inside the Parker for the 2021 season. Yes, we're excited. And you'll be able to catch the podcast every Thursday.

That's when it drops. And, of course, we'll have some of your favorites like Foul Affair, those segments, and a couple of new ones, betting on the bases and things like that as well. But first, let's get you started with getting robbed. To lead off, it's getting robbed. And keep him up. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one.

It is opening day. Yes, Thursday, April 1st. There's no April Fool's joke here. Everyone will play in Major League Baseball to start the season on a Thursday. And we cannot wait because we have a full. season. This is not 20-20. This is not 60 games. We have the full slate 162 games and we can't wait. So many good teams out there in Major League Baseball this year. So I'm excited. I know you are too. So you know what? There's nothing better than hearing. Play ball.

Number two. Met Shortstop Francisco Lindoor has turned down reportedly. $325 million long-term contract from the Metropolitan's. Instead, he wants a 12-year $385 million deal. That's his counterproposal. So far, he's balked at the Mets 10-year contract. And I don't know. I think Lindor is a hell of a player,

has a chance to make it to the Hall of Fame. But I don't know if I could pass up. up, 27 years old, $325 million, all guaranteed. Remember, he didn't have a great year last year, only batted 258, had eight home runs, 27 RBIs in the 60 games, so not that great. And he's betting on himself. I get it. He's been a tremendous shortstop.

He's won two-time. He's been a gold glove winner. he's on track to get to the Hall of Fame. But I think he's taking a huge gamble. He wants that $385 million, and I'm not sure I would not take the $325. Number three. All right, here's my 2021 World Series.

That's right. World Series prediction, man, I'm looking forward to a full baseball season. And I know everybody's talking about the Dodgers, and, of course, what they were able to do, adding Trevor Bauer to a team that already won the World Series a year ago. But in the NL West, I'm focusing on the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers have won that division eight years in a row,

but you know what? I'm going against the grain, and I'm going with the upstart Padres. I'm picking the Padres to win the division with the addition of pitchers, Blake Snell, U. Darvish, and Joe Musgrove, all to their rotation. I think that they have a stellar rotation. I love Fernando Tatis and Mani Machado and that lineup, Eric Hosmer and Will Myers. I mean, I can't like this team enough.

I get it on paper. The Dodgers are better. But I'm going to make the big pick of the Padres coming out of the National League. league for the World Series, beating the Dodgers and getting to the World Series and playing the New York Yankees. I know we're tired of picking the New York Yankees year in and year out, but I must admit this. I can't believe the Yankees will go through another year with the injuries that have

piled up the last few years. And they keep making the playoffs and they keep making playoff runs. But they keep getting banged up and having so many injuries. I believe George and Stanton finally stay healthy for a year, and they mash their pitching falls in line. And the New York Yankees beat the San Diego Padres in the World Series in 2021. This will be an epic world series with big stars, big names. I can't wait.

Fasten your seatbelts. Baseball season is here. Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn. Oh, it's so good. All right, now let's welcome to the podcast. Daniel Ponce de Leon, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, who has a new book. One line drive, a life-threatening injury, and a faith fuel comeback.

And what a story he has. Daniel, welcome to the podcast. Hey, Rob. Thanks for having me on here. Absolutely. And for people who remember your career, you know, you were hit by a line drive. And, you know, it took you 14 months to fully recover from that. But yet you made your first major league start becoming the fifth pitcher in modern major league history

to throw seven innings of no hit ball in your first outing. Some people regarded as one of the greatest debuts in Major League Baseball history. But first, take us back to that moment that changed. changed your life and the story you're about to tell us. Okay. It was May 9th in 2017. It was a day game at Iowa Cubs and kids' Day, too. So there was a bunch of kids there screaming SpongeBob stuff.

And second inning rolls around. I have Rosario a catcher, Carrotini hitting. And Rosario calls basketball down the way. I start the ball middle, stays middle. Carrotini lines the ball back up the middle. And hits me straight in the test. simple. And I remember the ball spinning. I could see the seams. I just could not react quick enough. And I probably was knocked out for a few seconds, but after that, I remember

catcher, my teammates, my trainer all surrounding me. My trainer's asked me questions. I'm able to answer. And initially, I'm thinking it's not too bad. But the trainer does not like the way I'm answering it. So he calls over the stretcher, and I thought that was ridiculous because my neck wasn't broken and they had me all strapped up and did the whole roll over on your side deal and put me on the stretcher and then they put me in the ambulance and then once I got in there started feeling a little bit worse and then getting to the hospital and that's when things started getting real bad for me and one of the last memories is them shaving my head and then after that I'm laying in the hospital bed talking to my dad and and I mean obviously so many things are going through

your mind I mean obviously baseball wasn't wasn't a part of it It's about survival at that point, wasn't it? Yeah. For me, I did not know how bad the injury was to the extent, but for all the other people around, they're hoping, one, I was just going to survive the surgery, and then two, they were hoping that I wouldn't have to re-go into surgery because then I would have disabilities.

And then once I did get clear of that, they're hoping that I did not have any disabilities. They were hoping I could walk, talk, and just eat again, and no one really was thinking about baseball at the time. And talk about making that recovery, your faith, your friends, your family. How important was that to need that in order to make it through such a traumatic situation? The people that were around me was essential to my recovery. For a brain injury, it's not something you can rehab.

You know, like you hurt arm's leg or something. You go through protocols after a certain time and start rehabbing. Well, for the brain, all it was was swelling. So all you can do is sit there and wait until the swelling goes down in your brain. And so I had three months to myself of just, you know, sitting there. Not much activity was allowed. You know, I was able to go for walks, kind of toss the tennis ball around for my dog. But otherwise, you know, you're just left to yourself with your own thoughts.

So I took that time to really dive into my faith. I was unsure where my soul would have gone if I would have died at that time. You know, I was a Christian, but I would be a lukewarm one at best. Yes. And so I decided to really dive into that during those three months and thereafter. And then July 23rd, 2018, you make your mom. major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals. Tell me what that was like, tell me what went through your head when you took the mound for the first time, you know, wearing a St. Louis Cardinals uniform

and you're in the big leagues. The great Lord delivered me. He answered prayers. Many of prayers, not just mine, but many other people in my life have prayed for me. Even people I hardly knew pray for me. And, you know, that outing, I recall is. probably one of the most peaceful and focused outings I've ever had. You know, nothing really could have fazed me. I wasn't worried. It wasn't too high. It wasn't too low.

It was just right. And that was my prayer previous to going out there. And I said exactly what I received when I was out there. And talk about playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. I call St. Louis the baseball capital of the United States. I don't think there are better baseball fans anywhere. And there are a lot of great baseball fans. LA, the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Red Sox, you know, the Cubs.

But St. Louis is the greatest baseball city. Am I wrong? No, you're not wrong at all. It is the baseball city. And those fans, they are unbelievable. When I was recovering at home, St. Louis, the Cardinals, they put out these two huge whiteboards, one in the clubhouse and then one out in the stadium for fans. And both groups, the big week players who I hardly knew, they didn't really know me, I hadn't

been called up yet. And even the random fans walked to the stadium, they all signed in and wrote nice things to me. I received a ton of letters in the mail from Iowa Cubs fans, you know, the St. Most Cardinal fans for a month and right, people who didn't even know me, they were there to stay behind me, and that meant a lot. Give us a preview of the Cardinals this year. I mean, the Cardinals have always competed, always tried to make moves to try to win the division and, you know, get back to the World Series.

How are you feeling about your team this season? Couldn't be more excited. This is probably one of the best teams that I've ever been around personally. And I will give props to the Cardinals front office. They've assembled a group of guys that I would call professionals. Just good people, good at what they do and just good and good all around. Like everyone's great. Everyone loves each other.

There's not one bad egg in the club out. And props to the Cardinals for that. And they did steal Nolan from the Rockies, did they? Definitely. We stole him and he fits right in. He's already a Cardinal before the first game. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the international.

Enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clever Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life. mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day

But just so y'all know I mean at this point Mark this is the second episode where we've discussed crack So I'm starting to see There's a through line We also have AIDS on the table right now So

Thank you finishing that sentence I don't think there's a more important year for black people Really? Yeah For me it's one of the most important years For black people in American history Listen to look back at it

On the IHeart Radio app Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcast Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free, our heart radio app, Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. That guy is, I mean, you couldn't tell. He looks like he's been here for years. He's a savvy guy, he sits right in, and he's going to be good for us. There you go. All right. The name of the book is One Line Drive, a life-threatening injury and faith fuel comeback.

And we appreciate you, Daniel Ponce de Leon. And good luck to you and the Cardinals this season. Thanks so much for joining the podcast. Yeah, thanks for having me on here. Thunderstruck, adjective. Shocked and amazed by the power of fun on Carnival. Riding Bolt, the world's first roller coaster at sea. Brian got Thunderstruck so hard,

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Walk a mile in my shoes. It's time for the pocket protector central. The analytic numbers you need to know, well, maybe. Anthony Masterson is his name. BS analytics is his game. What do you got for me, Anthony? The 2021 season is finally here. And for the first time in over a year,

it sure seems like there's some semblance of light at the end of a tunnel. And an MLB, certainly no shortage of storyline. The Dodgers trying to be the first team this century to repeat his champs, while the Yankees are looking at their longest World Series drought in over 30 years. But I'm here to talk about the kids. The next generation of stars. Let's start with the richest of them all, Padre Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who signed a whopping $14 million deal this offseason with only $143 million dollar deal this offseason,

with only 143 career games under his belt. Now, Tatis has popped at an early age. Among NL players under 23, only three others have a higher career OPS, then Tatis' 956 mark. Albert Poo-Holes, Mel Ott, and the Nationals Juan Soto. Yes, Soto. The 22-year-old Wonderkin who burst onto the scene in the 2019 postseason, leading his Nats to their first title in franchise history.

Last year at age 21, he led the NL an average on base percentage, OPS, and intentional walks. And his 972 career OPS, only behind Ted Williams, Jimmy Fox, and the aforementioned and Ott among all players before turning 22. Now, Soto has had to share headlines with his NL East rival Ronald Acuna Jr., whose MLB debut not coincidentally coincided with the Braves' three straight division titles. Acuna is one of only five players in MLB history with 80 homers and 60 steals before turning 23, joining some guys named Trout, Arod Griffey, and Andrew Jones. Decent company.

Now, the smiles and the swag these guys exude are infectious. Baseball should be a fun game, and these guys are doing their best to prove that youth isn't wasted on the young. It was a big week in the big leagues. Foul or is it fair? And now, here's shadowleague.com MLB insider J.R. Gamble. Each week, J.R. Gamble will, of course, tackle a foul or fair situation. Major League Baseball, but for the start of the 2021 season, he will discuss players to watch out for. Spring training brings new hope, new players, and new expectations. Here's the players I'm keeping

real hard in 2021. At first base, National's off-season acquisition, Josh Bell, had a breakout season with 30 homers in 2019. Then he caught a COVID slump in 2020 and was gone. look for him to have an incredible bounce back season. At second base, Marlins Jazz Chisholm. He won the second base starting job, adding some more spice to that Marlins lineup. He's got crazy drips and sick tools, so he's sure to grab some eyeballs

as a potential 2020 guy this season. Third baseman is to watch out for. Pirate third basins. He Brian Hayes, the son of Charlie. He was awesome in the 2020s. And everyone's looking forward to a full season as he mash his and he's nifty with the web and maybe he gives pirates a boost. At shortstop, gold glover J.P. Crawford, he became the 17th black infielder to win a gold glove.

You've got to watch this guy. He joins a short list of black shortstop to win one. Guys like Ozzy Smith, Jimmy Rollins, Derek Jeter, players of that ilk. Let's see if his bat elevates. In the outfield, Kyle Lewis will follow up his rookie season with 162 games of pure dopenet. You see the new Tory Hunter,

you got to watch this guy. Will he go 25-25 this season? And, of course, Stanton and Judge. Can they stay healthy together and lift the Yankees to that elusive world series? If I have to look at a young pitcher,

I'm very interested in how Jordan Hicks rebounds from his arm injury in St. Louis. The dude was lights out and among save leaders before the season got cut short. The season's popping. I'm ready to go. Check out these guys. Watch for them inside the park.

Turn money into more money. Now it's time for betting on the bases with Dave Gasco. Love that money. Dodgers open things up with the Colorado Rockies in the Mile High City. Four game series, game number one, the over-under total is 11.5. I'm pounding the over and not looking back. Keep in mind, Dodgers hit 31 home runs during the spring in 28 games. Corey's secret jacked eight of them and he's playing for a brand new contract.

Back here in California, Angels greet the Chicago White Sox to town for a four-game series as well. White Sox were a surprise team back in 2020. They have a lot of live bats. And on the other side for the Halos, Shoheyotani had a blistering spring. I think he rides that into the regular season. these games will be competitive, but look for the over-under total of eight and a half and take the over.

Arizona's offense has kind of hit or miss. San Diego's, not so much. I think the Padres take three or four this weekend. Rob, I think the theme early on this season will be offense. Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and Padres. Keep an eye on what they do early on and look more at the run totals than the juice when they're the favorite. When Rob was a newspaper columnist,

he lived by this motto. If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer or broadcaster, old or new. All right, now let's welcome in author Cam Perrin, who has a new book out called Comeback Season. It's on Sale Now, Gallery Books, and it's a story of friendships formed between Cam when he was then a teenager, a white baseball-obsessed guy from Boston, and hundreds of former professional Negro League players, Cam, welcome to Inside the Parker. How you doing?

I'm doing well, Rob. Thank you for having me. Absolutely. And the book is fascinating that you helped claim thousands of dollars, some even topping $100,000 for pensions from former Negro league players from MLB. How did you get involved in this and tell us about your journey? So I started out as a young baseball fan in Boston. Red Sox win the World Series in 2004.

And my immediate thought is, you know, I want to start collecting a bunch of Red Sox related memorabilia. I met a couple of the Red Sox players, David Ortiz and Johnny Damon at various events around Boston, often waiting four or five hours to meet them. So I began kind of a little collection of various memorabilia, baseball cards, autographs. And then in 2007, a friend of mine introduced me to collecting autographs through the mail. And I quickly realized, much like waiting five hours to meet David Ortiz, none of the new players or the modern players would reply through the mail. The players from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, the guys who had longed and retired, they were the ones who would write back.

So I'd go on a website called Sportscollectors.net. You would see who would reply and who wouldn't. I'd send to these old-time guys like Duke Snyder, Al K-Line, Bobby Dorr, send them a couple baseball cards that I would pick up at a memorabilia show or a local store and write a handwritten letter and self-address stamped envelope. And in a couple weeks, I'd often get them back. Cam, where was your, how did you get the interest as a young guy for the Negro League? You knew nothing about it.

This happened a long time ago. How did that piqued your interest? So I had known about the Negro League just being a baseball fan and, you know, into the history. But when Tops came out with a baseball card set called Allen & Ginter in 2007, they had about five or six baseball cards of former Negro League players who were still alive who were in the set. So I had bought a couple packs here and there at Target and local baseball card stores. And I got a couple cards of guys like Stanley Glenn and John Muley. and I found their addresses online.

Me and a couple guys said, oh, hey, we should send these cards out, write to these guys and see if they'd signed. So I sent out to them, and, you know, I got replies quite fast. And John Mule Miles, for example, wrote, you know, several-page long, handwritten letter. From there, I was like, wow, like the Major League players, they would just sign your card, send them back.

It just felt like they were going through the motion. Yeah, I'd get an autograph, cool. but these letters were just amazing. And I realized that it was so much more history and so much to uncover in speaking with these players. So I began writing to more players who didn't have baseball cards. And then I kind of hit a roadblock. I had written to a couple dozen guys,

and I didn't really have any other addresses to send to. So I began reaching out to other researchers, and one man in particular would give me a couple addresses here and there. and then a few players started calling me on the phone, writing letters back and forth to me, and these little kind of friendships via letter and phone started to blossom. And from there, I began speaking to these guys all the time on the phone, and I kind of realized that none of them had stayed in touch with their former teammates. None of them had any baseball cards.

Most didn't even have any pictures of them playing in the Negro League in their uniform. You could have played five, six seasons in the Negro League, not at a photo of you. in your uniform. And they had no newspaper articles, nothing that really tied them to their career. Some guys that have a couple here and there. But for the most part, you play a game in North Carolina on Saturday.

By Sunday morning, you're in Virginia and you never see that paper. So if you had a great game and a great write-up, you never saw that. So I began trying to find all those things, trying to find their former teammates by going on whitepages.com, trying to find old newspaper articles.

Sometimes it would be a really old grainy picture of them that they hadn't seen before. And then lastly, the pension thing, that came on a little bit later when I began working real close with a fellow researcher in Texas. And the way that works is Major League Baseball agreed to this pension program where if you played four years in the Negro League, you would get a pension of $833 a month, which is $10,000 a year. plus back pay to when the program was created, which they put back to around 2005-ish, I believe.

So in order to get this pension, you need to find four years of primary source documentation. That's where the hunt began. I got you. Now, tell me about 2010. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced game. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor, the fourth. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you

behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month,

I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app.

Search Learn the Hard Way and listen now. 15 years old and you guys and a fellow group of researchers, you guys organized the first annual Negro League Players' Reunion in Birmingham, Alabama. What was that like? It was pretty crazy. I was this young kid and I had become very close with this Dr. Ravelle who was a white doctor in Texas who was in his late 50s at the time. And a third man, a second man, chef Clayton Sherard, who's a chef.

chef from Birmingham, who was a former bat boy with the Birmingham Black Barons in the 50s. So the three of us began getting really close over the phone, and we kind of realized, well, hey, you know, Cam has located a lot of these former players. By that time, by 2010, I'd been doing this for about two and a half years with the Negro League players. And I had tracked down probably 50 to 60 plus players through white pages and all sorts of weird online phone books. And we had all become quite close. And Dr. Ravelle and Chef, New York. a bunch of players from their years of working with former Negro League players

and Chef Clayton knew a bunch of guys in Birmingham. So the three of us kind of pooled our resources of players and they planned out all the logistics and I just began calling all my newfound buddies who were 60, 70 years older than me and invited them down to Birmingham and everybody showed up. And we had this week-long event.

I took a week off of school at my sophomore year of high school. And we had, I would say, 60 plus players show up. It was amazing. All right, Cam. His new book is called, Comeback Season. It's on sale now. Cam, people can pick it up everywhere.

Yeah, as far as I know, it's, you know, it's on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, most independent bookstores. All right. Well, congratulations on the book, and we look forward to it. Thanks for joining Inside to Parker. Appreciate you. Thank you. If you design, engineer, build, or maintain buildings in California,

you can get free technical training, continuing education credits, and prepare for a range of certifications through PG&E's online classes. Enroll at pg.e.com slash training. Adoption of teens from foster care is a topic not enough people know about, and we're here to change that. I'm April Dinwiddie host of the new podcast, Navigating Adoption presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. Each episode brings you compelling real-life adoption stories told by the families that live them with commentary from experts.

Visit Adoptuskids.org slash podcast or subscribe to navigating adoption presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. And we're live here outside the Perez family home just waiting for the... And there they go. Almost on time this morning. Mom is coming out the front door strong with a double-armed kid carry. Looks like Dad has the bags. Daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh, but the diaper bag wasn't closed.

Dipers and toys are everywhere. Ooh, but Mom has just nailed the perfect car seat buckle for the toddler. And now the eldest daughter, who looks to be about 9 or 10, has secured herself in the booster seat. Dad zips the bag closed and they're off. Ah, but looks like Mom doesn't realize her coffee cup is still on. the roof of the car, and there it goes! Oh, that's a shame.

That mug was a fam favorite. Don't sweat the small stuff. Just nail the big stuff. Like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the right seat for their age and size. Learn more at nhtsa.gov slash the right seat. Visit nhtsa.gov slash the right seat. Brought to you by Nitsa and the Ad Council. Better up.

It's Jones in for baseball. A fan's take on the game we love. You're out. I believe that for the majority of this upcoming 2021 MLB season, that this is, in fact, a year that Aaron Judge will be able to stay healthy. In order for the Yankees can accomplish various goals such as winning the ALE East, advancing to the World Series, and then winning the World Series, they will average us to be that key piece in the puzzle to make all the other surrounding pieces fall into place. Although he's only played in 63% of the 384 games over the past these seasons, whenever he's on the field, he's an absolute. game changing.

In that same time span, he's been on pace to have an OPS plus 140 as well as hitting over 40 homeowner. It's a difference between being on pace for something that actually accomplices something. In the spring training press conference, Aaron Judge mentioned working smarter rather than harder this off-season. We spoke about modified workout, less bench pressing, and more yoga. I feel as if thought I would pay off of his durability for this upcoming 2021 MLB season. Now bring in the closer

Track one Right two Here's why MLB is better than the NFL or NBA And it isn't even close It's not even close Opening day of baseball is huge It's just a sign of spring to come It's just the weather warms up

People feel good about it And yes to crack at a bat So here is my annual Ode to Opening Day So much of my love for baseball started at an early age. And my family knew how much I loved baseball. Even my mom, who was a stickler for school and about getting your work done. But when I was in junior high school, my mom used to write a fake doctor's note for me

so that I could leave school early so that I could get home to watch the Mets on opening day. I had to see the first pitch of the season on TV. I couldn't come home in the third or fourth inning. I had to see it from the beginning. And back then, I was a Mets fan. I wasn't a reporter. I was a fan. Opening day that stands out to me the most.

Dates back to college. 1983. I was a student at Southern Connecticut State University, me and my three buddies, we hopped in the car. We barely had money for tickets, but we had to see Tom Seaver return to the Mets. We drove from New Haven, Connecticut. And I can remember standing up in our seats

in the bleachers and watching Tom Sever walk from the bullpen and to the mound. What a moment it was. Meet the Mets. Step right up and drink the Mets. In the words of New York TV legend, the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until next time. Rob Parker, out.

He can't get it. This could be an inside of Parker. See you next week. Same bad time. Same bad station. If you love to be remembered as the person who gives the best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that 1-800flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination.

1-800 flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise. Shop thousands of unique gifts at 1-800flowers.com for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit 1-800flowers.com slash tune-in. That's 1-800flowers.com slash tune-in. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast is.

Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have with, but you're having him with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing.

How many men carry a suit are armored. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors, like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

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