Part 2 of my conversation with Paul Hoynes picks up with a wild story about Albert Belle and a corked bat. “Hoynsie” shares tales from the 1990s when a new ballpark, powerful lineup, and sterling run of success caused baseball fever to erupt in

Paul Hoynes part 1: “I'm Sweating Bullets, Shaking, Trying to Calm Myself Down.”

15 days ago 42m 4s

This is the first of a 2-part conversation with Paul Hoynes, who has covered Major League Baseball in Cleveland since 1983. We hit some of the “Hoynsie” greatest hits, including the Hawk Call and the tale of two belts. He tells us about working

Writers Bear Witness to Memorable Moments from March Madness

29 days ago 52m 2s

Celebrate college basketball with this compilation of stories told on Press Box Access by 12 sportswriters who covered some of the greatest moments in NCAA tournament history. Magic vs. Bird. Jim Valvano looking for someone to hug after Phi Sla

Jerry Tipton: “You could just walk into the Kentucky coach’s office.”

Mar 13th, 2024 56m 43s

We welcome back Jerry Tipton to Press Box Access to share stories from his new book: “Déjà Blue—A Sportswriter Reflects on 41 Seasons of Kentucky Basketball.” He takes us behind the scenes with the Wildcats, as he did with his fair, objective a

Helene Elliott: “Gretzky was like no one we had seen before.”

Feb 28th, 2024 56m 51s

We’re paying a special salute to Helene Elliott by once again publishing my conversation with her in an episode from February 2022. She recently accepted a buyout and ended her stellar 34-plus years at the Los Angeles Times, where she was a spo

Dave Molinari: “Lemieux Taxed the Limits of my Ability to Describe What I Saw.”

Feb 14th, 2024 1h 2m

We head to the rink for hockey talk with Dave Molinari, a Hall of Fame writer who has covered the Pittsburgh Penguins and NHL since 1983. His legendary dry, sharp wit comes through in tales about superstars Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby, as w

Mike Vaccaro: “Isiah Thomas is on the Back Page in a Full Clown Suit.”

Jan 31st, 2024 59m 58s

We travel to the Big Apple and beyond as New York Post sports columnist Mike Vaccaro shares tales from 35 years of living his childhood dream job. Isiah Thomas depicted in a tabloid clown suit. John Calipari’s colorful language in a full rant.

"The Greatest: Media Share Memories of Muhammad Ali in and out of The Ring"

Jan 17th, 2024 1h 19m

We’re saluting Muhammad Ali on his 82nd birthday with a compilation of stories told on Press Box Access by sportswriters who crossed paths with The Greatest. Dave Kindred, Jerry Izenberg and other veteran scribes share their personal memories o

Jayson Stark: “The Baseball Breaks a Window Across the Street from Wrigley Field.”

Jan 3rd, 2024 1h 1m

Our show’s 75th episode has a special guest in Jayson Stark, one of the most well-respected, well-liked baseball writers for more than 40 years. His passion for the game and craft shines through as he discusses growing up as Stan Hochman’s pen

Mike DeCourcy: “It Was Like Being Given a Ticket to Heaven.”

Dec 20th, 2023 1h

Mike DeCourcy puts us courtside with tales from his distinguished career covering college basketball for nearly four decades. He tells us about the greatest game he ever covered and the first machine he ever filed a story on. Mike gives insight

Art Thiel: “It was a Grand Experiment in Mayhem.”

Dec 6th, 2023 1h 10m

You can almost hear a crackling campfire as Art Thiel shares stories from his nearly 50 years of writing about sports. Art takes us deep into his home base of Seattle, off to foreign lands for the Olympics, and into a trashed casino after Mike

Diane Pucin: “It Was All Tonya, Tonya, Tonya, Nancy, Nancy, Nancy.”

Nov 22nd, 2023 54m 58s

Diane Pucin recalls with pride and joy how the sports calendar served as the rhythm of her life for nearly 40 years. Bob Knight throwing a chair. Jimmy Connors sending the U.S. Open crowd into a frenzy. The distinct sound of Pete Sampras’ racqu

Charles Pierce part 2: “Tiger Woods Tells These Jokes and then it Becomes a Thing.”

Nov 8th, 2023 55m 25s

Part 2 of my conversation with Charles Pierce continues with more discussion about basketball icon Larry Bird. Pierce, lead political writer for Esquire, also shares in this second of two episodes why covering the NBA in the 1980s was a highlig

Charles Pierce part 1: “They Rolled the Champagne out of the Red Sox’s Locker Room.”

Oct 25th, 2023 55m 32s

Charles Pierce takes time away from his job as lead political writer for Esquire to reflect on his nearly 50 years of experiences as a sportswriter. In this part 1 of a 2-part episode, Pierce recalls covering Bill Buckner’s error, Ben Johnson’s

Terence Moore: “I Literally Ran into Woody Hayes.”

Oct 11th, 2023 54m 39s

Terence Moore joins us again to share more stories from his 45 years as a ground-breaking and award-winning sports journalist. He takes us behind the scenes of his encounters with Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, John McVay, Walter Alst

Sheldon Ocker: “Manny used to use other people's bats, pants, and shirts.”

Sep 27th, 2023 56m 17s

Sheldon Ocker reflects on more than four decades of being a sportswriter in northeast Ohio with his customary wit and dry sense of humor. He takes into the clubhouse and behind the scenes during his 33 seasons of covering Major League Baseball

Filip Bondy: “It Became an Anterior-Posterior Investigation.”

Sep 13th, 2023 56m 37s

Filip Bondy describes his four decades as a sportswriter as being “crazy, stupid, frustrating, wonderful and a wild ride.” This episode explains why. Fights between writers. Lou Piniella flipping the bird. The Pine Tar Game’s connection to Rush

Geoff Calkins: “It Turned into a Prince Concert in the Press Conference.”

Aug 30th, 2023 56m 26s

Geoff Calkins takes us to Memphis, where he has been a high-profile fixture in the sports media scene for 27 years. He tells us about the indefatigable Hubie Brown, a voicemail from the volatile Jerry West, and what the view was like from atop

John McGrath: “It Was a Front-Row Seat to the Greatest Sports Events.”

Aug 16th, 2023 54m 45s

We trek into the Pacific Northwest and catch up with John McGrath about his 40 years of writing about sports. He puts us in Dodger Stadium for Kirk Gibson’s famous home run and recounts other deadline horrors. We’re on the field for The Drive,

Peter King: “It Was the Golden Age of Covering the NFL.”

Aug 2nd, 2023 58m 19s

Peter King enters his 40th year of covering the NFL by sharing tales from his distinguished career. He recalls giving a car ride to rookie Boomer Esiason, being questioned by Bill Parcells as a young reporter, and watching an old movie at the h

Patrick Reusse part 2: “When the Beer Runs Out, the Bullshit Stops.”

Jul 19th, 2023 40m 28s

This is the second and final part of my conversation with the great storyteller Patrick Reusse, who looks back with humor and irreverence at his 60 years covering Minnesota sports. He takes us on journeys to small towns throughout his home stat

Patrick Reusse part 1: “The Turkey is Unbeaten.”

Jul 5th, 2023 44m 46s

This is part 1 of a rollicking two-part conversation with Patrick Reusse, longtime sports columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a member of the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Reusse looks back at his 60 years covering Minnesota s

Liz Clarke: “His death was unfathomable because it was Earnhardt.”

Jun 21st, 2023 58m 37s

Liz Clarke looks back on her “accidental career” as a sportswriter with the same thoughtfulness she always put into her stellar work. Much of our conversation focuses on NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. Hear how she gained his trust in part by not

Thom Loverro: “You could just wander into camp and watch Ali train.”

Jun 7th, 2023 54m 59s

Thom Loverro says boxing has the best stories, and he shares some favorites from many years inside the fight game. He takes us to Muhammad Ali’s training camp, puts us ringside for Mike Tyson’s ear chomp, and takes us behind the scenes on the d

Al Pearce: “Richard Petty looks at me from behind those sunglasses and . . . “

May 24th, 2023 59m 49s

Sit down, strap in and go for a thrill ride with Al Pearce as he recounts more than five decades of writing about motorsports, particularly NASCAR. Al talks about his early days around stock car racing and how he’s covered 54 consecutive Dayton