Good Seats Still Available

Tim Hanlon
  • 4.7 (98)
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Good Seats Still Available

“Good Seats Still Available” is a curious little podcast devoted to the exploration of what used-to-be in professional sports. Each week, host Tim Hanlon interviews former players, owners, broadcasters, beat reporters, and surprisingly famous "super fans" of teams and leagues that have come and gone - in an attempt to unearth some of the most wild and woolly moments in (often forgotten) sports history.

  1. Baseball's Historical Concentricities - With Curt Smith

    2 DAYS AGO

    Baseball's Historical Concentricities - With Curt Smith

    Renowned Presidential speechwriter-turned-sports-historian Curt Smith joins the podcast this week for an erudite look at the not-so-obvious concentricity between the story of baseball in America with both the growth of broadcasting and the evolution of electoral politics.   Drawing from some of his most seminal works on baseball history - most notably 1987's iconic Voices of the Game, the anthological Memories from the Microphone, and the newly updated-in-paperback The Presidents and the Pastime - Smith helps put the game into richer cultural perspective, with astute observations of its unmistakable intertwinement with media and government. + + +  SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 BUY THE BOOKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Voices of the Game: The Acclaimed Chronicle of Baseball Radio and Television Broadcasting - from 1921 to the Present (1992): https://amzn.to/4gYnvV0 Memories from the Microphone: A Century of Baseball Broadcasting (2021): https://amzn.to/4h6cVvr The Presidents and the Pastime: The History of Baseball and the White House (2024): https://amzn.to/4gTMQ2E   SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE   FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 12m
  2. The 5th Annual(-ish) Year-End Holiday Roundtable Spectacular!

    12/30/2024

    The 5th Annual(-ish) Year-End Holiday Roundtable Spectacular!

    It's our year-end Holiday Roundtable Spectacular - featuring a look back at the year's newest additions to "what used-to-be" in professional sports (RIP MLB's "Oakland" Athletics & the NHL's Arizona Coyotes), and a predictive glimpse into what might be in store for 2025 - with two of our favorite fellow defunct sports enthusiasts: Steve Holroyd (Crossecheck, Philly Classics & Episodes 92, 109, 149, 188 & 248); and Paul Reeths (OurSportsCentral.com, StatsCrew.com & Episode 46). Buckle up for our yearly mélange of amusement and bemusement at the fringes of the pro sports establishment, as we simultaneously marvel at and lament some of the most curious events of the past year, debate who and what might be next to stumble into oblivion, and conjecture about future scenarios for the next generation of defunct and otherwise forgotten pro sports teams and leagues - including: Spring football's unified UFL Arena Football League 2.0 RIP (and Arena Football One 2025) MLB's now-Sacramento-and-someday-Las Vegas (maybe) Athletics The NHL's Utah Hockey Club (fka Arizona [née Phoenix] Coyotes, via the WHA's original Winnipeg Jets) Major League Cricket Baseball's genre-bending Savannah Bananas - and its soon-to-launch Banana Ball Championship League Indoor soccer's new Baller League Premier League Lacrosse's pivot to city teams and a new women's division The new League One Volleyball (LOVB) takes on the 2nd-year Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) NWSL soccer PWHL hockey PLUS: Can Diamond Baseball Holdings (41 MiLB teams and counting!) be stopped? AND: Will Michael Jordan, et al. break up the NASCAR stock car monopoly? + + +  SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE    FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 48m
  3. NASL, MISL & MLS Soccer - With National Soccer Hall of Famer Johnny Moore

    12/23/2024

    NASL, MISL & MLS Soccer - With National Soccer Hall of Famer Johnny Moore

    It's a holiday gift-wrapped conversation with American soccer pioneer and US National Soccer Hall of Famer Johnny Moore - whose professional career as a player and coach across the original versions of both the North American Soccer League (San Jose Earthquakes, Oakland Stompers), and Major Indoor Soccer League (Detroit Lightning, San Francisco Fog, Phoenix Inferno & a one-game/one-goal stint with the Kansas City Comets), and as General Manager of the original Major League Soccer incarnation of the 'Quakes (formerly Clash, now Houston Dynamo) - is the stuff of legend. Also: the "outlaw" 1969 Oakland/California Clippers; San Francisco's infamous Cow Palace; the mid-70s US Men's National Team; the real origin story of the NASL 35-yard line (and Shootout); and how Mexico's Club America almost became another Chivas USA. + + +  SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "Soccer Fever: A Year With the San Jose Earthquakes" (1977): https://amzn.to/3BTrNy1   FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 57m
  4. The NFL's Providence Steam Roller - With Greg Tranter

    12/16/2024

    The NFL's Providence Steam Roller - With Greg Tranter

    We welcome pro football historian (and Buffalo Bills memorabilia patron) Greg Tranter ("The Providence Steam Roller: New England's First NFL Team") to our microphones this week for a look back at the oft-forgotten Providence Steam Roller - which competed in the early-days National Football League from 1925-31. Based in Providence, RI, the Steam Roller holds a unique place in gridiron history as the first and only team from the Ocean State to win an NFL championship. The team's unusual name reflected the industrial character of the region and was derived from a local steamroller manufacturer. The Steam Roller played their home games primarily at the Cycledrome, an outdoor stadium primarily designed for bicycle races, which provided a distinctive playing venue. In inclement weather, the team occasionally used the Providence Auditorium, making them one of the few teams to ever host an indoor NFL game. The club was renowned for its tough, physical play -especially in 1928 when, under the leadership of player/coach Jimmy Conzelman, the Steam Roller achieved its greatest success by winning a closely contested (and ultimately board room-decided) NFL title over the Frankford (PA) Yellow Jackets. Despite their championship success, the Steam Roller struggled with the financial challenges common to early NFL teams, particularly during the Great Depression. In 1931, the franchise folded due to declining attendance and steepening losses at gate. Though short-lived, the Providence Steam Roller left a lasting legacy as a reminder of the NFL's early days, when the league was still establishing itself in small and mid-sized cities across the United States. + + +  SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "The Providence Steam Roller: New England's First NFL Team" (2024): https://amzn.to/3ZVBTb9 FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 23m
  5. The Once and Future Detroit Lions - With Bill Morris

    12/09/2024

    The Once and Future Detroit Lions - With Bill Morris

    We jump aboard this NFL season's biggest bandwagon with a look back at one of the league's most enduring, yet historically mediocre franchises - and the only club operational for the entirety of the post-AFL era to never appear in the Super Bowl. Bill Morris ("The Lions Finally Roar: The Ford Family. The Detroit Lions, And The Road To Redemption In The NFL") joins the podcast to help us wallow in the colorful, but supremely confounding history of pro football's Detroit Lions - especially during the last 60+ years of family majority ownership begun in earnest by William Clay Ford Sr. back in 1963. From the "Curse of Bobby Layne" to Billy Sims, from Barry Sanders to Matt Millen, and from the Pontiac Silverdome to 2008's historic 0-16 season - it's all here!  Plus, we speculate whether this year will finally see the Lions return to NFL championship glory. + + +  SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "The Lions Finally Roar: The Ford Family. The Detroit Lions, And The Road To Redemption In The NFL" (2024): https://amzn.to/3ZJmVES   FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 17m
  6. "Banned" - With Michael Ray Richardson & Jake Uitti

    12/02/2024

    "Banned" - With Michael Ray Richardson & Jake Uitti

    Former NBA All-Star Michael Ray Richardson and his co-author Jacob Uitti (Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption) join the show to discuss Richardson's riveting new memoir that chronicles his extraordinary journey on and off the basketball court. Hailed as “the next Walt Frazier” coming out of the University of Montana as a first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 1978 NBA Draft, "Sugar" was a force to be reckoned with, leading the league in both assists and steals in just his second season - still New York Knicks team records to this day - and earning four All-Star appearances and two All-Defensive team honors. But behind the scenes, his career was overshadowed by personal struggles with drugs and alcohol, leading to a historic lifetime ban from the NBA in 1986 while a member of the New Jersey Nets. Richardson shares how he rebounded from that moment, finding redemption through subsequent stints as a player and coach in places like the CBA (Albany Patroons, Oklahoma Cavalry); USBL (Long Island Knights); Premiere Basketball League; and a prolific 14-year professional league run in Europe, where he guided teams to championships and redefined his legacy.  Now running youth basketball clinics and reflecting on his journey, Richardson proves that resilience and accountability can turn even the darkest chapters into a comeback story. SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption" (2024): https://amzn.to/3B2Knn7   FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 14m
  7. The Cleveland Indians' Ray Chapman - With Scott Longert

    11/25/2024

    The Cleveland Indians' Ray Chapman - With Scott Longert

    Baseball history writer Scott Longert ("Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman"), joins the show for an in-depth look at the life and legacy of Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman (1891-1920) whose tragic story continues to resonate more than a century later. Chapman rose from humble beginnings to become one of the American League’s top shortstops of the 1910s. His exceptional talent on the field, coupled with his marriage to heiress Kathleen Daly, positioned him for a life of privilege and success. Yet, his promising future was cruelly cut short during the 1920 pennant race when a high fastball from Yankees pitcher Carl Mays tragically ended his life. Longert goes beyond the familiar narrative of Chapman’s untimely death to paint a broader picture of his remarkable yet brief life, from his rise as a baseball star to his pivotal role in what would ultimately become the Indians' first-ever World Series championship season. Longert also explores the heartbreaking ripple effects of the tragedy, including the devastating toll on his widow and young daughter. Join us as we delve into Chapman’s enduring legacy as a Cleveland icon, the chilling events of that fateful game, and his lasting impact on baseball and its history. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman" (2024): https://amzn.to/4eMGCA7   FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 18m
  8. Basketball Jump Shot Innovator Ken Sailors - With Debbie Sorensen

    11/18/2024

    Basketball Jump Shot Innovator Ken Sailors - With Debbie Sorensen

    Author/biographer Debbie Sorensen (Beyond the Jump Shot: The Elevated Life of Kenny Sailors) delves into the story of basketball pioneer Kenny Sailors (1921–2016), one of the most unheralded influencers in both the collegiate and pro game. Widely credited with popularizing the modern-day jump shot, Sailors first stunned audiences in the early 1940s when he elevated mid-air to shoot over taller defenders - a revolutionary move in an era dominated by set shots. His innovation not only expanded offensive possibilities but also became a fundamental skill in basketball at all levels.   As a standout player for the University of Wyoming, Sailors led his team to the NCAA Championship in 1943, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. His game-changing jump shot helped transform basketball into the fast-paced, dynamic sport we recognize today. After serving in World War II, Sailors had a successful professional career in the ascendant Basketball Association of America (BAA) - most notably with the Cleveland Rebels and Providence Steamrollers - as well as in the first two years of the NBA (the original NBL-absorbed Denver Nuggets, and BAA-originated Boston Celtics & Baltimore Bullets). Beyond his contributions on the court, Sailors was an advocate for youth sports and the importance of education, spending decades mentoring young athletes. His legacy is celebrated not only for his role in evolving the sport but also for his character and sportsmanship. Inducted into the National Collegiate Hall of Fame in 2012, Kenny Sailors remains a towering figure in basketball history - though, criminally, still not in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.  + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "Beyond the Jump Shot: The Elevated Life of Kenny Sailors" (2024): https://amzn.to/3Vko1ob STREAM THE DOCUMENTARY (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story" (2022): https://amzn.to/40TFtmO  FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

    1h 7m
See All (411)

4.7
out of 5
98 Ratings

About

“Good Seats Still Available” is a curious little podcast devoted to the exploration of what used-to-be in professional sports. Each week, host Tim Hanlon interviews former players, owners, broadcasters, beat reporters, and surprisingly famous "super fans" of teams and leagues that have come and gone - in an attempt to unearth some of the most wild and woolly moments in (often forgotten) sports history.

Information

  • Creator
    Tim Hanlon
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    411
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Good Seats Still Available
  • Show Website
    Good Seats Still Available

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