Yesterday's Sports
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network.
Are Women As Strong As Men? (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
The first USA Women's National Championships were held on May 23, 1981, in Waterloo, Iowa. There were only 29 competitors, and only one woman, Judy Glenney, was able to snatch more than her bodyweight. Lifting in the 67.5-kilo weight class, Glenney easily won the best lifter award with a 75-kilo snatch and a 97.5-kilo clean & jerk. Seventeen of the 29 competitors were unable to clean & jerk their bodyweight, but it was a start.......
You...
Are Women As Strong As Men? (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
The first USA Women's National Championships were held on May 23, 1981, in Waterloo, Iowa. There were only 29 competitors, and only one woman, Judy Glenney, was able to snatch more than her bodyweight. Lifting in the 67.5-kilo weight class, Glenney easily won the best lifter award with a 75-kilo snatch and a 97.5-kilo clean & jerk. Seventeen of the 29 competitors were unable to clean & jerk their bodyweight, but it was a start.......
You...
1996 New York Yankees (Part 3)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Join Mark as he relives the 1996 New York Yankees season, the first World Series Championship for the team since 1978. It was also one of the greatest comebacks in World Series history. Tune in this final of the 3 part series.
You can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City...
1996 New York Yankees (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Join Mark as he relives the 1996 New York Yankees season, the first World Series Championship for the team since 1978. It was also one of the greatest comebacks in World Series history. Tune in for part 2 of this 3 part series.
You can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City...
1996 New York Yankees (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Join Mark as he relives the 1996 New York Yankees season, the first World Series Championship for the team since 1978. It was also one of the greatest comebacks in World Series history. Tune in for part 1 of this 3 part series.
You can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City...
1972 Los Angeles Lakers
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
From 1949 to 1954, the Minneapolis Lakers won five NBA titles. They reached the Finals again in 1959 but lost to the Celtics.
The Lakers moved to LA before the start of the 1960-1961 season. They reached the NBA Finals again in 1962 and 1963, but lost to the Celtics both times. They also lost to Boston in 1965, 66, 68, and 69. In 1970, they lost to the New York Knicks.
From 1955 to 1971, the Lakers made the...
Jim Schmitz Interview (USA Olympic Weightlifting Coach and President of the US Weightlifting Federation) - Part 2
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Jim was a coach for the USA Olympic team in 1988 and 1992 and served as President of the US Weightlifting Federation from 1988 to 1996. From 1992 to 1996, he served on the Executive Board of the International Weightlifting Federation. He was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2020.
You can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across...
Jim Schmitz Interview (USA Olympic Weightlifting Coach and President of the US Weightlifting Federation) - Part 1
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE
EPISODE SUMMARY
Jim was a coach for the USA Olympic team in 1988 and 1992 and served as President of the US Weightlifting Federation from 1988 to 1996. From 1992 to 1996, he served on the Executive Board of the International Weightlifting Federation. He was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2020.
You can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across...
What's The Right Amount of Weight Training?
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
I recently heard a weightlifting coach say that overtraining doesn't exist. That's a very broad statement to make. I know for a fact that overtraining exists because I was a victim of it. I overtrained for many years, believing the more you trained, the more progress you would make. I was wrong, and I suffered a severe case of tendonitis because of it.
And just as bad, I probably didn't...
1940s Chicago Bears: A Decade of Dominance (Part 3)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Step back in time to an era of leather helmets and legendary grit as Mark chronicles the 1940s Chicago Bears, the original "Monsters of the Midway." This decade marked a period of unparalleled dominance where George Halas built a juggernaut that defined professional football. From the historic 73-0 dismantling of the Washington Redskins in the 1940 Championship to the innovative T-formation that revolutionized the game, Mark explores how the Bears captured four NFL...
1940s Chicago Bears: A Decade of Dominance (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE
EPISODE SUMMARY
Step back in time to an era of leather helmets and legendary grit as Mark chronicles the 1940s Chicago Bears, the original "Monsters of the Midway." This decade marked a period of unparalleled dominance where George Halas built a juggernaut that defined professional football. From the historic 73-0 dismantling of the Washington Redskins in the 1940 Championship to the innovative T-formation that revolutionized the game, Mark explores how the Bears captured four NFL...
1940s Chicago Bears: A Decade of Dominance (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE
EPISODE SUMMARY
Step back in time to an era of leather helmets and legendary grit as Mark chronicles the 1940s Chicago Bears, the original "Monsters of the Midway." This decade marked a period of unparalleled dominance where George Halas built a juggernaut that defined professional football. From the historic 73-0 dismantling of the Washington Redskins in the 1940 Championship to the innovative T-formation that revolutionized the game, Mark explores how the Bears captured four NFL...
The NY Giants: A Team Without A Home (w/ Joe Santos) - Part 2
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
LISTEN TO THE NY GIANTS: A TEAM WITHOUT A HOME
In the conclusion of this special two-part series, Joe Santos (creator of The NY Giants: A Team Without a Home) returns to join Mark Morthier and Dave DePaola for a nostalgic look at the end of the Giants' "exile" and the birth of a new era. While Part 1 focused on the splinters of the Yale Bowl, Part 2 brings the story...
The NY Giants: A Team Without A Home (w/ Joe Santos) - Part 1
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
LISTEN TO THE NY GIANTS: A TEAM WITHOUT A HOME
Relive the "forgotten years" of Big Blue in this deep dive into one of the most tumultuous eras in New York Giants history. Joe Santos, creator of the documentary podcast The NY Giants: A Team Without a Home, joins Mark Morthier and Dave DePaola to recount the bizarre saga of 1973 through 1975.
From being "evicted" by Mayor John Lindsay...
Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali Trilogy (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
In the conclusion of our deep dive into the Ali-Norton trilogy, Mark and Dave head to the newly refurbished Yankee Stadium in September 1976. This 15-round championship battle took place against the backdrop of a "burning" Bronx, where the atmosphere outside the ring was as volatile as the action inside.
They discuss the controversial unanimous decision that went Ali’s way—a result that left Norton visibly devastated and many ringside obse...
Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali Trilogy (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Yesterday's Sports, Mark and Dave travel back to the gritty, golden era of 1970s heavyweight boxing to revisit one of the most technical and debated rivalries in the sport: the Ali-Norton trilogy. Mark sits down with fellow sports historian Dave DePaolo to break down how Ken Norton, a former Marine and 5-to-1 underdog, went from a Joe Frazier sparring partner to the "Jaw Breaker" who shocked the world...
1970s Sports Nostalgia w/ SHN Member Harv Aronson (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
In Part 2, host Mark continues his in-depth conversation with Harv Aronson of Total Sports Recall, diving deeper into the dominance of 1970s sports dynasties. The discussion highlights how legendary teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys were built through scouting and late-round NFL Draft picks rather than first-round hype, with figures like Gil Brandt and Bill Nunn identifying hidden talent from small colleges.
The episode also revisits Super Bowl...
1970s Sports Nostalgia w/ SHN Member Harv Aronson (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Yesterday’s Sports on the Sports History Network, host Mark Morthier sits down with Pittsburgh native Harv Aronson of Total Sports Recall (part of the Sports History Network) to explore what it was like growing up as a sports fan in the 1970s.
Harv shares how his writing and podcasting journey evolved into a curated portfolio of sports history content, while both hosts reflect on a ch...
Pro Football Hall of Fame Discussion (Part 3)
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EPISODE SUMMARY
The final episode of the Hall of Fame series is recorded during Super Bowl week and opens with Dave describing his Super Bowl jackets, patches, and pins, including favorites from Super Bowls VI, X, XIII, and a rare press pin from Super Bowl XXX. The conversation reflects on collecting, nostalgia, and how memorabilia represents personal memories more than monetary value, while also reinforcing that Hall of Fame induction is limited and that...
Pro Football Hall of Fame Discussion (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
The episode continues a discussion between Mark and Dave about how difficult and subjective the Pro Football Hall of Fame process is, highlighting several players who waited many years to get in (including Tom Mack, Jack Youngblood, Carl Eller, Harry Carson, and Randy Gradishar).
Mark and Dave argue that modern fans—used to instant takes—often don’t relate to how long the process can take, and they blame nonstop media...
Pro Football Hall of Fame Discussion (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Yesterday’s Sports on the Sports History Network, Mark and fellow sports historian Dave DePaolo take on the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the growing gap between how modern players are inducted versus legends from earlier eras. They discuss how today’s nonstop media coverage has changed the conversation, creating pressure for instant, first-ballot inductions, while many past greats waited years to receive the same honor.
Da...
Author Jack Bethel (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Mark invites author Jack Bethel to join Yesterday's Sports to talk about many topics in in sports history, but focusing heavily on the California and Los Angeles areas. Jack is author of many books, but the one of particular interest to Mark for this conversation "Decades Across Redondo," where "cheers meets sports history....."
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river...
Author Jack Bethel (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE
EPISODE SUMMARY
Mark invites author Jack Bethel to join Yesterday's Sports to talk about many topics in in sports history, but focusing heavily on the California and Los Angeles areas. Jack is author of many books, but the one of particular interest to Mark for this conversation "Decades Across Redondo," where "cheers meets sports history....."
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river...
FROM THE VAULT: Mark and Dave Discuss 1970s Playoff Games
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Dave and Mark talk about a bunch of 1970s NFL Playoff games, including:
1 - 1971 Playoff - Dolphins vs Chiefs
2 - 1972 Playoff - Steelers vs Raiders
3 - 1974 Playoff - Raiders vs Dolphins
4 - 1976 Playoff - Raiders vs Patriots
5 - 1977 AFC Championship - Broncos vs Raiders
And much more.....
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in...
1981 San Fransisco 49ers (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
The San Francisco 49ers franchise began in 1946 in the All-American Football Conference. The team posted a winning record in all four seasons of the league's existence and had an impressive 12–2 mark in 1948. But they were in the same division as the Cleveland Browns, the league's best team. With the league struggling to survive, down to one division and only seven teams remaining, the 49ers finally got their chance to face the Browns in...
1981 San Fransisco 49ers (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE
EPISODE SUMMARY
The San Francisco 49ers franchise began in 1946 in the All-American Football Conference. The team posted a winning record in all four seasons of the league's existence and had an impressive 12–2 mark in 1948. But they were in the same division as the Cleveland Browns, the league's best team. With the league struggling to survive, down to one division and only seven teams remaining, the 49ers finally got their chance to face the Browns in...
Monday Night Football (Part 2) - Mark and Dave Relive The Early Days of Monday Night Football
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
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EPISODE SUMMARY
Monday Night Football (Part 2) - Mark and Dave Relive The Early Days of Monday Night Football
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little...
Monday Night Football (Part 1) - Mark and Dave Relive The Early Days of Monday Night Football
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE
EPISODE SUMMARY
Monday Night Football (Part 1) - Mark and Dave Relive The Early Days of Monday Night Football
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little...
1973 Atlanta Falcons (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
The Atlanta Falcons joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1966. Like most expansion teams, they struggled during their first five seasons, winning only 16 of 70 games. They recorded their first winning season in 1971, finishing 7–6–1, and followed that with a 7–7 record in 1972.
The first game of the 1973 season couldn't have gone any better for the Falcons, as they blew out the Saints 62–7. It was the third biggest blowout in NFL history up to that point, and still ranks in...
1973 Atlanta Falcons (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
The Atlanta Falcons joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1966. Like most expansion teams, they struggled during their first five seasons, winning only 16 of 70 games. They recorded their first winning season in 1971, finishing 7–6–1, and followed that with a 7–7 record in 1972.
The first game of the 1973 season couldn't have gone any better for the Falcons, as they blew out the Saints 62–7. It was the third biggest blowout in NFL history up to that point, and still ranks in...
Muhammad Ali's Chin - Knocked Down Only 4 Times
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Muhammad Ali's boxing career is well documented, so instead of going over his entire career, I will focus on the four times Ali was knocked down.
Sonny BanksHenry CooperJoe FrazierCheck WepnerYou can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives...
Larry Brown - Hall of Fame Worthy?
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
A committee member recently asked me my opinion on inducting former Washington Redskins running back Larry Brown into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
First, I want to say it’s an honor that this committee member values my opinion enough to ask me to contribute to this discussion.
I have the utmost respect for Larry Brown, his achievements, and his approach to playing the game. He played with a mindset of giving 100% effort on...
1970 & 1971 Minnesota Vikings
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Here’s a question I often hear, especially from Minnesota Vikings fans: Would the 1970 and/or 1971 Vikings have won the Super Bowl if they had Joe Kapp or Fran Tarkenton at quarterback? Here’s my answer: First, I should point out that the Vikings lost one Super Bowl with Joe Kapp and three with Fran Tarkenton. So, maybe a better question is, would they have reached the Super Bowl with a better quarterback?
You can read the...
1975 Baltimore Colts (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
From 1957 to 1971, the Baltimore Colts never experienced a losing season. They played in four NFL Championship games, winning three of them. They also appeared in two AFC Championship games, winning one, and played in two Super Bowls, winning one.Â
But by 1972, age had caught up with them, and combined with some questionable trades, that led to their worst season since 1954. The Colts finished 1972 with a 5–9 record, and things only worsened. In 1973, they went 4–10; in 1974, they were 2–12. The Col...
1975 Baltimore Colts (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
From 1957 to 1971, the Baltimore Colts never experienced a losing season. They played in four NFL Championship games, winning three of them. They also appeared in two AFC Championship games, winning one, and played in two Super Bowls, winning one.Â
But by 1972, age had caught up with them, and combined with some questionable trades, that led to their worst season since 1954. The Colts finished 1972 with a 5–9 record, and things only worsened. In 1973, they went 4–10; in 1974, they were 2–12. The Col...
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers finally beat the Yankees to win their first and only World Series in Brooklyn. Relive the journey of “Dem Bums” from heartbreak to glory.
You can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and...
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers finally beat the Yankees to win their first and only World Series in Brooklyn. Relive the journey of “Dem Bums” from heartbreak to glory.
You can read the full blog post here.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and...
SPECIAL 250th EPISODE (Reminiscing With Arnie Chapman - Founder of Sports History Network)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this special 250th episode of Yesterday's Sports, Mark sits down with Arnie Chapman to reminisce over the past 5 years of podcasting. They talk about how Mark first reached out to Arnie to be one of the first members of the Sports History Network, highlights from the show, some childhood memories not previously discussed on this podcast, what his future plans for Yesterday's Sports are, and so much more.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark...
Two Careers of George Foreman (Part 2)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Mark's friend and fellow sports historian, Dave DePaola, joins Mark to talk about the "2 careers of George Foreman." This is part 2 of that conversation.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see...
Two Careers of George Foreman (Part 1)
Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Mark's friend and fellow sports historian, Dave DePaola, joins Mark to talk about the "2 careers of George Foreman." This is part 1 of that conversation.
YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND
Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see...
