Sports With Friends

For years, MLB.COM National Writer Barry Bloom was on all my radio shows. Best segments ever on MLB Radio. When 2016 Spring Training began, Bloom profiled new Marlins skipper Don Mattingly and also has an extensive relationship with new Marlins' hitting coach Barry Bonds. On Saturday, 2/20/2016, I was hosting on 790 The Ticket in Miami and had Barry Bloom as a guest. Follow Barry on Twitter @boomskie.

On Saturday, February 20, 2016, I hosted another radio show on the iconic Miami, Florida station, 790 The Ticket. On the show, I interviewed an old friend. ESPN's Jayson Stark. We discussed big baseball stories, including Barry Bonds becoming the hitting coach of the Marlins, Aroldis Chapman and his off the field issues, and the latest on the debate regarding the Designated Hitter. Plus, he reveals the 1st time I convince him to come on a radio show (Syracuse tickets were involved).

In the final of 3 Topps interviews, I spoke with Evan Longoria. We addressed last year's surprises, as well as expectations. We also discussed his love of Baseball Cards, and what it means to be with Topps. In the interview we also discussed the Rays stadium issue, and his role as a player when news is both positive and negative. This is also the 1st podcast to be officially sponsored by the Advanced Performance and Rehabiltation Center, located in New Jersey.

I have had MVP's on this show in the past. Ken Griffey Jr. was an MVP. Eli Manning was a Super Bowl MVP. This is the 1st time a REIGNING MVP comes on Sports with Friends. Bryce Harper of the Nationals is my special guest, via Skype. We discussed his love of baseball cards, his new manager Dusty Baker, and he addressed his confrontation with Jonathan Papelbon. Bryce is a 2016 Topps Ambassador and the most popular choice amongst National players. He graces the cover of Topps Baseball Series 1 card boxes that went out this week . Fans voted on the top players across MLB to be featured in this years set for the first time. He was on hand to introduce the 2016 Topps Baseball Series 1 cards and discuss 65 Years of Topps cards and their value in todays marketplace.

Carlos Beltran, OF/DH for the New York Yankees was a special guest on the podcast. He's also played for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals. I ran into Carlos at the Topps headquarters where he was on hand to introduce the 2016 Topps Baseball Series 1 cards and discuss 65 Years of Topps cards and their value in todays marketplace. On the show, we discussed expectations for himself, the Yankees, and what his role as a leader in a clubhouse means to him, as well as his love of baseball cards.

Former Super Bowl Champion, Brian Kinchen, who played for both the Patriots and the Carolina Panthers is a guest on Sports with Friends.. Kinchen is a retired 14-year NFL tight end and long snapper who played for Miami, Cleveland, Baltimore, Carolina, and New England. As a tight end, he caught 160 passes for 1,648 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2003, Brian joined the Patriots late in the season and snapped the game winning field goal in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Additionally, a documentary about his life/career is currently in production with a feature film in development titled Before The Kick. It details his return to football after becoming a middle school teacher. His career has many twists and turns and he also has strong opinions on Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, the Panthers. It's a unique preview for Super Bowl 50.

The NFL and the Sports world descends on the San Francisco area, I caught up with friend Russell Baxter from Bleacher Report, among other outlets. We discuss the Broncos vs. Panthers. Topics include Peyton Manning's legacy, and controversy that seems to be with Cam Newton. Follow Russell on Twitter @baxfootballguru

The Sports Landscape has a new league. Imagine the podracing scene from Star Wars Episode I. The DRL is the premier drone racing league. A sports and media company, DRL combines worldclass flight skill and proprietary technology to create engaging drone racing content with mass appeal. In 2016 DRL will launch a global events series culminating in a World Championship. It was founded by Nicholas Horbaczewski in 2015. I spoke with Nick in January about the launch. Follow the Drone Racing League on Twitter @DroneRaceLeague.

This Sunday, the Denver Broncos host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game for 2016. It's the 17th time that Peyton Manning has faced Tom Brady, 5th in the playoffs. Gary Myers wrote the book "Brady vs Manning: The Untold Story of the Rivalry That Transformed the NFL." He has covered the NFL for more than three decades. He is currently a football columnist for the New York Daily News. He is also a fellow Syracuse alum, and a friend. They did a segment together promoting the book for MSNBC.

Recorded at the 2016 Hall of Fame Press Conference announcing the election of Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza. This is Jeff Idelson's 2nd appearance on the podcast. (Episode #14 from July, 2015). We discuss the voting process, the decision on hats/logos for HOF Plaques, and Pete Rose's ineligiblity.

In November of 1979, 26-year-old Alex Paen, a cub reporter at KMPC Radio in Los Angeles, convinced his bosses to send him to Iran to cover the story of the 52 American hostages held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Paen became a focal point of information during his time in Iran, relaying news back to the United States and obtaining interviews with militants and others involved in the crisis. Paen also delivered millions of Christmas cards to the American hostages. Americas Game and the Iran Hostage Crisis is part of NFL Networks series The Timeline and it re-airs Tuesday, January 19 at 8:00 PM Eastern, one day before the 35th anniversary of the hostages release. It is my honor to interview Alex Paen on this episode.

Ken Griffey Jr is the newest member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In the closest pursuit yet toward a unanimous choice in National Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, Griffey Jr. missed by only three votes of a perfect score in the 2016 balloting. Of the 440 ballots submitted, Griffey was named on 437, which accounted for 99.32 percent of the vote, the highest plurality in the history of the election that dates to 1936. The previous record holder was Tom Seaver, who was named on 98.84 percent of BBWAA ballots in 1992. For years, Griffey has claimed to have made Seth Everett's career. Hear rare clips from years ago where Griffey staked that claim. (Video here:) Then, it's an exclusive interview with Junior. And more added treats. Congratulations to the man who made my career.

Americas Game and the Iran Hostage Crisis is part of NFL Networks series The Timeline and it re-airs Tuesday, January 19 at 8:00 PM Eastern, one day before the 35th anniversary of the hostages release. Americas Game and the Iran Hostage Crisis is produced by Smokehouse Pictures, narrated by George Clooney and directed by Tate Donovan. Tate is the special guest on Episode 45. He is an accomplished actor whose film credits include Argo, Love Potion No. 9, and Seth's children's favorite Hercules. He also has been on TV with the O.C., Friends, (of which Seth makes special mention).

Pete Rose files for reinstatement in Major League Baseball and was denied by Commissioner Rob Manfred. The main reason was that Rose continues to bet on baseball. Kostya Kennedy is the author of "Pete Rose: An American Dilemma." He joins the podcast to discuss Pete Rose, gambling in baseball, and the Hall of Fame.

On 790 The Ticket in Miami, Joe Frisaro, who covers the Marlins for MLB.COM, joined the show to discuss the recent rumors that the Marlins are shopping, and planning to trade ace pitcher Jose Fernandez. Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeFrisaro. And follow the Tickets @790TheTicket.