Sports' Forgotten Heroes  By  cover art

Sports' Forgotten Heroes

By: Warren Rogan
  • Summary

  • Sports' Forgotten Heroes is a tribute to the stars who shaped the games we love to watch and the games we love to play. Sports' Forgotten Heroes is not about reliving the careers of superstars we talk about every day like Muhammed Ali, Jim Brown, Babe Ruth or Michael Jordan. Rather, Sports' Forgotten Heroes is about the stars who have faded away with time. Some were elected to their respective Hall of Fame, others might have had one great season, or just one great game that will live in infamy. Guys like Billy Cannon, Ed Delahanty and Bill Barilko - stars whom time has forgotten.
    2017 Sports' Forgotten Heroes
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Episodes
  • 127: Pittsburgh Pipers - ABA
    Mar 19 2024

    In 1967, a new basketball league was born, the ABA (American Basketball Association) with teams in 11 cities including Indianapolis, Oakland, New Orleans, Denver and Dallas. The ABA also put a team in Pittsburgh, the Pipers. After a slow start, the Pipers got it going and twice won as many as 14 games in a row. In fact, the Pipers finished the season with a record of 54-24. They won the Eastern Conference and then worked their way through playoffs. In the first round, they swept the Indiana Pacers 3-0. In the Eastern Finals, they took out the Minnesota Muskies 4-1 and in the championship, in seven games, the Pipers outlasted the New Orleans Buccaneers 4-games-to-3. The Pipers were good. real good. In fact, they might have been good enough to qualify for the NBA playoffs. They were led by a budding superstar - Connie Hawkins. Blackballed by the NBA for his alleged involvement in a point shaving scandal, Hawkins was named the ABA's regualr season MVP and playoff's MVP. He averaged 26.8 ppg during the regular season and 29.9 ppg in the playoffs. Of course, later in hi career, he was finally granted entry into the NBA where he continued to excel and was ultimately elected into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. Back to the Pipers. Despite winning the East, the team's fanbase was minimal at best. So, the Pipers, after just one year in Pittsburgh, packed up and headed north to Minneapolis. The Muskies left for Florida. Ironically, the Muskies couldn't draw fans and the Pipers, after relocating to Minnesota, couldn't draw fans in Minneapolis either. So, they packed up and headed back to Pittsburgh. Without a doubt, the Pipers had quite a unique history and on this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, basketball historian and author Mark Whited stops by for a lively discussion about the Pipers, the ABA and Connie Hawkins.

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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • 126: Steve Wright - NFL
    Mar 5 2024

    Steve Wright played 12 years in the NFL as an offensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and a two detour into the USFL with Oakland Invaders. His story is quire remarkable considering how he wound up a starter despite being undrafted out of the University of Northern Iowa. But his determination and persistence not only helped him make the Cowboys in 1981, but become a fixture on the O-Line. He played with and against some of the game's greatest and played under three unique coaches: Tom Landry, Frank Kush and Art Shell. His story is filled with the highs and lows you would expect. But it's also filled with magnificent stories as well, three of which are among the most historic in history. In his rookie year, he thought he was on his way to the Super Bowl until Dwight Clark caught a pass from Joe Montana to vault the 49'ers and end the dreams of Cowboy fans everywhere. He was on the field for the longest TD run in NFL history, 99 1/2 yards by Tony Dorsett and he was on the Baltimore Colts when they packed up and left overnight for Indianapolis. But Steve's exploits on the field are only a part of his story. What he did off the field while playing and after his playing days are a huge part of who Steve Wright is. Introducing Cloudburst (misting machines) to the NFL and the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, his charity around the world, his appearance on Survivor and so much more. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, Steve joins the podcast to talk about his career and his life after football in this most entertaining discussion.

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 125: Art Ross - NHL
    Feb 20 2024

    Art Ross is a true hockey legend. Not only was he a superb player before and during the formative years of the NHL, but he was also an innovator. In fact, many of Ross's innovations are still evident in today's game, beginning with the puck. But, it was on the ice where Ross made a name for himself. A tough and rugged defenseman, Ross was one of the top 2 or 3 players on the ice when hockey was in its pre-NHL days. Ross bounced around from team to team (many factors went into his choice on where to play every year) in Western Canada and in the East as well. The most recognizable team he played for was the Montreal Maroons. And, while Ross did play in the NHL, it wasn't for long (1917-1818 with the Montreal Wanderers) as he was ready to retire just as the NHL got going. But, Ross was still very much associated with the league as he became coach of the Boston Bruins for the 1924-25 season - and that's where a majority of his legend was born. Ross coached the Bruins for 17 different seasons and won the Stanley Cup with Boston twice (1928-29 & 1938-39). He also made major contributions to the game and the Bruins in upper management. Hockey was Ross's life and in the book, "Art Ross, The Hockey Legend Who Built The Bruins," author Eric Zweig covers it all. On this episode of SFH, Eric joins the podcast to talk about Art's innovations, his career on the ice, behind the bench and much of his life (whatever there was of it) off the ice.

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    1 hr and 29 mins

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