In The Front Row with Mike Vaccaro Banterscape Media

Dre' Bly Reflects on His 11-year NFL Journey, from Winning a Super Bowl to Coaching
Dre' Bly grew up in Chesapeake, VA raised by parents who were long-time educators. Bly played multiple sports as a kid highlighted by baseball and football. A fan of Michael Jordan and the Tar Heels, Bly chose to play at North Carolina over schools like Virginia, Virginia Tech and Syracuse. Playing for coaches Mack Brown and Carl Torbush, Bly was a three-time First Team All-American. As a freshman, he led the country with 13 interceptions and was named ACC Rookie of the Year. (In 2014, Bly was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.) In 1999, the St. Louis Rams drafted Bly in the 2nd Round starting what would be an 11-year career in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl (XXXIV) and lost a Super Bowl (XXXVI) with the Rams before signing with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 2003. The cornerback was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Lions before spending time with the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers. Following his playing days, Bly coached youth sports in the Charlotte, NC area before coaching back at his alma mater along with the NFL. He's returned to Charlotte as Defensive Analyst for the Charlotte 49ers, coaching alongside his son Trey who is a student assistant. In this episode, Bly shares his journey and the role his parents and coaches played in his career. He tells us about a special bond he shares with former rival, turned teammate Torry Holt. He also tells us what it means to be in several halls of fame and what the future holds for him in coaching.

Dan “Nitro” Clark on being an American Gladiator and Netflix docuseries “Muscles & Mayhem”
Dan Clark was born in Japan. After trying boxing and baseball, he turned to football which would take him to San Jose State and a brief stint in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams. When his football career ended, Clark moved to Hollywood with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone as his role models. He eventually auditioned for a sports game show and would get the call after one specific line he used during his audition. He became “Nitro” on American Gladiators which would become a hit show in the 1990s and become a cultural phenomenon. Clark shares about his time on the show and the stories that became the basis for a book that was turned into a hit Netflix docuseries “Muscles & Mayhem”. He also tells us about his ventures after the show ended along with his outlook on life as he gets set to celebrate his 60th birthday.

Joe Kleine grew up in Slater, Missouri where he was a 2nd Team Parade All-American basketball player.  Raised Catholic and a big Notre Dame fan, Kleine chose to play for the Fighting Irish and head coach Digger Phelps. After transferring to Arkansas where he played for another legendary coach in Eddie Sutton, Kleine saw his game flourish. From 1982-85, Kleine and the Razorbacks were a force in the Southwest Conference often battling with Houston’s “Phi Slama Jama” Cougars led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Before his senior season, Kleine helped lead the US Olympic team to a gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics playing for Bob Knight and alongside Michael Jordan. In 1985, Kleine was drafted 6th overall by the Sacramento Kings and would begin a 15-year career in the NBA. During his stops, Kleine was coached by Bill Russell, was teammates with Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan, and battled against some of the game’s greatest big men. He won an NBA title with the Bulls in 1998 and would eventually retire in 2000. Now a broadcaster for the SEC Network and owner of multiple Corkey’s Ribs and BBQ restaurants, Kleine shares his journey with us including his Top 5 Centers he faced.

Jack "Goose" Givens on 1978 Kentucky National Championship and his NBA coach Hubie Brown
Jack Givens grew up in the housing projects of Lexington, KY playing baseball, but his sport of choice changed as his body changed and he started to grow. His growth spurt helped him excel at basketball and become Mr. Kentucky Basketball and a Prade All-American in 1974 while also earning his nickname "Goose".  Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall and Big Blue Nation convinced Givens to stay home. Playing for the Wildcats, Givens helped them to a national runner-up finish his freshman year followed by NIT appearances.  Everything came together in his senior year when he led the Wildcats to the 1978 NCAA National Championship with a win against Duke scoring 41 points to earn Most Outstanding Player. A fan favorite, he finished his career with 2038 points, was a three-time All-SEC selection and an All-American playing in Rupp Arena were his #21 jersey currently hangs. Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, Givens played two seasons for head coach Hubie Brown before playing several years overseas. Business and broadcasting followed his playing career including his current role back in Lexington as the analyst on Kentucky Radio broadcasts. In this episode, Givens shares his story with us including how the 1966 Texas Western basketball team's win over Kentucky in the NCAA Championship game opened his eyes to the possibility of him playing for the Wildcats. He also recounts a deeply personal and difficult moment in his life that's a part of his new memoir coming out this year. Plus, he gives us his Top 5 Kentucky Wildcats basketball players of all time.

Kevin Eastman on the 2008 Celtics Championship TEAM and Coaching KG, Ray Allen, And Paul Pierce
Kevin Eastman grew up in New Jersey playing basketball. After graduating high school, Eastman played at Richmond where he was a two-time captain and 1000-point scorer (he was inducted into the Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004). Eastman played one year of pro ball before he started his coaching career. Following several stops as an assistant coach, Eastman became a head coach at Belmont Abbey in 1986. Stints at UNCW (1990-94) and Washington State (1994-99) followed before Eastman served 4 years as Athletic Director at Randolph-Macon College. While working with Nike Basketball, Eastman found himself at a camp that led to a successful career as an NBA assistant coach under Doc Rivers. From 2004-2013 Eastman coached with the Boston Celtics and helped lead the storied franchise to the 2008 NBA title against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Eastman ended his time in the NBA spending three years alongside Rivers with the Los Angeles Clippers. Now a motivational speaker and author, Eastman shares his experiences and the lessons he's learned from some of the best players he's coached. He also recounts his time at UNCW and what made coaching the Seahawks so special. Plus, he gives us his Top 5 list of players he's coached.

Josh Bonifay grew up around baseball with a grandfather who was a minor league general manager and a dad who was the GM for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After excelling in high school, Bonifay attended UNCW where he played for legendary head coach Mark Scalf.  Following his junior year, he was drafted by the Pirates receiving the phone call from his dad. Bonifay spent 8 years in minor league baseball before injuries eventually forced him to retire.  Bonifay returned to UNCW to earn his degree before pursuing a coaching and managing career back in the minors. Josh eventually moved to MLB front office positions with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Word Series Champion Texas Rangers. In this episode, Bonifay remembers what it was like being around professional baseball players such as Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and others while his dad was GM of the Pirates. He shares what made his time at UNCW so special and why he still has ties to the Seahawk program. Plus, we hear about his future professional goals along with his Top 5 players he’s been around including a very special player that tops that list.