YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 back to New Jersey.

The guys share personal memories of watching Giants Stadium rise from the swamps of East Rutherford—a sight that defined the childhood of many local fans. From the urban legends of Jimmy Hoffa buried under the end zone to the logistical "leverage" plays used by modern owners, this episode bridges the gap between the struggling 70s squad and the powerhouse franchise the Giants would eventually become.

The conversation shifts from the field to the stands, exploring the unique culture of NFL fandom in the 70s and 80s. You’ll hear about the days when a Giants season ticket was a family heirloom, passed down through generations like a deed to property. The trio reminisces about the evolution of the "fan experience"—comparing the non-existent tailgating of the Bronx to the legendary parking lot parties in the Meadowlands.

They also take a deep dive into the "Style of the Game," discussing the iconic (and sometimes controversial) logo changes, from the "Disco NY" of 1975 to the classic lowercase "ny" that fans still crave today.

To wrap up, the hosts exchange "I was there" stories involving some of the biggest names in sports history. Relive the halftime ceremony where a "high as a kite" Lawrence Taylor caught passes from Phil Simms in dress shoes, and hear a classic anecdote about Otis Anderson’s superstitious refusal to wash his lucky practice pants after the Super Bowl.

Whether it’s the booming voices of Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshire or the accuracy of Sonny Jurgensen, this episode is a celebration of the characters, the quirks, and the deep-seated loyalty that define the New York Giants' legacy.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 to playing home games 80 miles away at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, the guys explore how a promising 1972 squad collapsed into a 2-11-1 disaster. You’ll hear about the logistical nightmares of practicing in Jersey City while playing in Connecticut, and the political friction that left the Giants feeling like second-class citizens in their own backyard.

The conversation is packed with "I was there" nostalgia, covering the infamous 1974 regular-season overtime loss to Joe Namath and the Jets, where Broadway Joe famously "walked" into the end zone. The trio reminisces about the rugged conditions of the Yale Bowl—from the splinter-filled wooden benches and the absence of stadium lights to the tiny "snow fence" that served as the only barrier between fans and the gridiron.

They also break down the personnel moves that defined the era, including the ill-fated Fran Tarkenton trade, the decline of workhorse Ron Johnson, and the defensive core of Brad Van Pelt and Jack Gregory that tried to hold it all together during the lean years before the Ray Perkins/George Young revolution.

Beyond the stats, this episode captures the unique fan experience of the 1970s—the all-day bus and train pilgrimages to New Haven, the freezing rain of the 1974 finale against the Vikings, and the eventual move to Shea Stadium in 1975.

Whether you remember shivering in the Yale Bowl stands or watching the highlights on NFL Game of the Week, this trip down memory lane explores the grit, the frustration, and the enduring loyalty of Giants fans during a decade of displacement. Stick around for part two as the guys continue to unravel the history of the team that eventually found its soul (and its trophies) in the Meadowlands.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 observers, including the hosts, convinced that the challenger had been robbed of the heavyweight crown. They analyze the scoring round-by-round, exploring how Ali’s "mystique" and his ability to dance on his toes might have influenced the judges even when he wasn't landing the more effective punches.

The episode then expands into a broader reflection on the heavyweight division's golden era and the technical mastery of Ken Norton. They compare the Ali-Norton rivalry to the Ali-Frazier wars, noting that while Frazier was a straightforward physical force, Norton’s unorthodox style remained a puzzle Ali never truly solved.

They also touch on the heartbreaking later years of Norton's life, clarifying the misconceptions regarding his health and the 1986 car accident that affected his speech. The discussion honors Norton not just as a "sparring partner," but as a highly intelligent, college-educated athlete who Larry Holmes later cited as the toughest opponent of his own legendary career.

They wrap up this trip down memory lane by wandering into the "yesteryear" of legendary stadiums and the NFL of the late 70s. From the nostalgia of watching Tony Dorsett’s debut in the crisp 1977 footage of Metropolitan Stadium to the "primitive" charm of Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, we evoke the sights and sounds of a bygone era.

They trade stories about the Giants at Yankee Stadium, the golden voice of John Facenda, and the era of "no fat Dallas Cowboys." It’s a heartfelt tribute to the sports heroes and hallowed grounds that shaped our youth, reminding listeners why these stories still resonate so strongly today.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 in San Diego.

From the nostalgic intro of Howard Cosell on Wide World of Sports to the shocking visual of Ali fighting through a broken jaw, they explore why this first clash set the stage for a three-year chess match that "The Greatest" never truly mastered.

The conversation shifts to the intense 1973 rematch at the Los Angeles Forum and the final 15-round war at Yankee Stadium in 1976. They dive deep into Norton’s unorthodox "cross-arm" defense and his peculiar habit of dragging his back foot—a style so puzzling that Ali admitted years later he couldn't figure it out.

They analyze the "judge-friendly" tactics Ali used to sway the scorecards, including his late-round flurries and psychological warfare, and debate whether the pro-Ali crowds and his legendary status influenced decisions that many historians still believe belonged to Norton.

Finally, they immerse you in the atmosphere of 1976 New York, a time when "The Bronx was Burning" and Yankee Stadium had just reopened its doors to host this historical rubber match. They discuss the "city issues" that almost halted the fight, the chaos in the aisles, and the legendary figures from Angelo Dundee to Chick Hearn who colored the broadcast.

Whether you remember watching these fights live on a Saturday afternoon or are hearing the legends for the first time, this episode is a nostalgic journey into the heart of boxing's most enduring stylistic quagmire.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 XIII, Tony Dorsett’s explosive performance, and the enduring Cowboys–Steelers Super Bowl rivalry, including reflections on Super Bowl XXX and how quarterback play shaped championship outcomes.

The conversation expands into Olympic history and 1970s sports culture, covering the controversial 1972 USA men’s basketball loss, the brilliance of Mark Spitz, and the unforgettable USA boxing team of the 1976 Olympics featuring Sugar Ray Leonard and Leon Spinks.

Mark and Harv also reflect on boxing’s golden era, from Ali vs. Frazier and the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, examining why the 1970s and 1980s produced some of the greatest fighters in sports history.

Closing out the episode, the hosts compare the dominance of 1970s MLB teams like the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland A’s, and Pittsburgh Pirates with today’s era of parity, while reminiscing about classic TV programs like ABC’s Wide World of Sports and the communal experience of watching big events before DVR and streaming existed.

For fans of 1970s sports history, classic NFL rivalries, Olympic controversy, and boxing’s golden age, this episode delivers a compact but powerful look at a transformative era in American sports.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 childhood defined by neighborhood pick-up games, transistor radios, limited TV channels, and the freedom that shaped a generation of lifelong fans.

The conversation centers on defining sports moments that fueled Harv's passion, including the 1971 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles, sparked by watching Roberto Clemente homer, and the legendary 1972 “Immaculate Reception.”

From celebrating the Pirates’ championship to listening to Steelers games on the radio due to NFL blackout rules, the episode captures the raw excitement of 1970s baseball and football fandom.

Mark and Harv close by comparing the physical, defense-driven NFL of the 1970s to today’s game, revisiting the iconic Steelers–Cowboys Super Bowl rivalry and the dominance of franchises like Pittsburgh, Dallas, Miami, and Oakland.

For listeners searching for 1970s sports nostalgia, Steelers history, Pirates history, and classic NFL rivalries, this episode delivers a focused look at how a golden era of sports shaped a generation of fans.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 not getting in doesn’t erase a player’s greatness.

The discussion then shifts to football nostalgia and how the game has changed, touching on extreme cold-weather games like the Bengals–Chargers “freezer” game, Kenny Anderson’s performance, and concerns about moving future playoff games indoors. They contrast today’s Super Bowl—dominated by commercials, halftime shows, and nonstop media—with earlier eras when the focus was strictly on the game, before closing with lighthearted talk about old episodes, short-form clips, and plans for future shows.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 coverage for turning every “snub” into a major controversy.

They then review current finalists and first-year candidates like Drew Brees, Frank Gore, Larry Fitzgerald, Kevin Williams, and Jason Witten, while also mentioning longer-waiting names such as Willie Anderson, Jahri Evans, Darren Woodson, and Torry Holt.

They debate the eight-player limit, stressing that letting in too many hurts the Hall’s prestige, and they point out how roles like blocking tight ends, interior linemen, and kickers can be overlooked (with discussion of Vinatieri, Otis Taylor, and L.C. Greenwood).

This and much more....

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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.

Dave explains the Hall of Fame voting process, including modern-era and senior candidates, the role of the 50-member committee, and how personal biases and media influence can affect outcomes. Mark and Dave also reflect on numerous historical players who waited far longer than today’s stars, reinforcing their shared belief that Hall of Fame discussions should focus less on hype and more on true impact, longevity, and what a player meant to the game.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 the 1949 Championship game, but lost 21–7.

The league folded, and the 49ers joined the NFL in 1950. From 1950 to 1959, their record was 63-54–3. Their only postseason appearance came in 1957, when they blew a 27–7 lead to the Lions.

From 1960 to 1969, the 49ers' record was 57–74–7, and they never made the postseason. After a 4–8–2 record in 1969, there was no reason to expect the 1970s to be any different. But the 49ers surprised everyone by going 10–3–1 in 1970 and then upsetting the heavily favored Vikings in the playoffs. They lost to the Cowboys in the NFC Championship game, but returned to the title game the following season, where they lost to the Cowboys again.

In 1972, they lost to the Cowboys again, this time blowing a 21–3 lead in the divisional playoff game. They never recovered, and from 1973 to 1980, the 49ers' record was a dismal 39–79. But the 49ers were about to shock the football world in 1981.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 the 1949 Championship game, but lost 21–7.

The league folded, and the 49ers joined the NFL in 1950. From 1950 to 1959, their record was 63-54–3. Their only postseason appearance came in 1957, when they blew a 27–7 lead to the Lions.

From 1960 to 1969, the 49ers' record was 57–74–7, and they never made the postseason. After a 4–8–2 record in 1969, there was no reason to expect the 1970s to be any different. But the 49ers surprised everyone by going 10–3–1 in 1970 and then upsetting the heavily favored Vikings in the playoffs. They lost to the Cowboys in the NFC Championship game, but returned to the title game the following season, where they lost to the Cowboys again.

In 1972, they lost to the Cowboys again, this time blowing a 21–3 lead in the divisional playoff game. They never recovered, and from 1973 to 1980, the 49ers' record was a dismal 39–79. But the 49ers were about to shock the football world in 1981.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 the top six all-time as of 2025......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 the top six all-time as of 2025......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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.

1. Sonny Banks
2. Henry Cooper
3. Joe Frazier
4. Check Wepner

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 every play, a quality not often seen in today's game. Despite his small size, he possessed the courage and fearlessness of a giant. 

Larry often said that his mental toughness came from growing up in the tough Hill District of Pittsburgh.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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. 

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 Colts went through four head coaches in three years.

The head coach for 1975 was Ted Marchibroda, but there was little hope that the team would improve......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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. 

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 Colts went through four head coaches in three years.

The head coach for 1975 was Ted Marchibroda, but there was little hope that the team would improve.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

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 a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After posting an impressive 69–24–2 record over the last six seasons, including two NFC titles and one Super Bowl victory, the Dallas Cowboys entered the 1972 season with high hopes of winning another championship......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After posting an impressive 69–24–2 record over the last six seasons, including two NFC titles and one Super Bowl victory, the Dallas Cowboys entered the 1972 season with high hopes of winning another championship......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, Mark sits down with Ed Kleese to discuss the Washington Redskins' storied past. From the glory days of the 1991 Super Bowl champions to the challenges of the 1980s, Ed provides a heartfelt look at what it means to be a fan through thick and thin.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark jumps back into the 1990 NFC Championship, picking up in the 2nd half.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Dave DePaola and Joe Zagorski join Mark to talk about 1970s NFL and how they believe this was the golden era of the league.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

From 1969 to 2006, I was a big fan of NFL football. During those 38 years, I watched many great football games, most from the 1970s. But there was a game from 1991 that I would rank among the best I’ve seen.

The 1990 NFC Championship game featured the New York Giants versus the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on January 20, 1991. The winner would advance to play in Super Bowl XXV. The two teams had previously faced off about a month and a half earlier on Monday Night Football in a defensive slugfest. Both teams entered that game with impressive 10–1 records. The 49ers emerged victorious, winning 7–3.......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark covers the life and career of enigmatic Billy "The Kid" Martin, long time player and manager in the MLB. Many say he should be in the Hall of Fame for his incredible coaching prowess. Others say his off-field antics don't deserve a place in the Hall. This is part 3 of a 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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark covers the life and career of enigmatic Billy "The Kid" Martin, long time player and manager in the MLB. Many say he should be in the Hall of Fame for his incredible coaching prowess. Others say his off-field antics don't deserve a place in the Hall. This is part 2 of a 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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark covers the life and career of enigmatic Billy "The Kid" Martin, long time player and manager in the MLB. Many say he should be in the Hall of Fame for his incredible coaching prowess. Others say his off-field antics don't deserve a place in the Hall. This is part 1 of a 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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of “No-Nonsense Old-School Weightlifting History,” we’ll explore how weightlifting in the 1980s differed from today. We’ll compare gear and equipment like weightlifting shoes, belts, and singlets. We’ll also cover how the Soviets dominated weightlifting in the 1970s and how the Bulgarians overcame them in the 1980s.

Additionally, we’ll discuss how the Cold War and politics affected the Olympics in 1980 and 1984, and how the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 greatly impacted the sport of weightlifting. We’ll examine how training methods and techniques have evolved over the years, along with many other topics.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Every dedicated baseball fan knows that the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball from 1921 to 1964, winning 29 pennants and 20 World Series titles. However, that dominance abruptly ended from 1965 to 1969. During those five years, the Yankees had only one winning season, and even that was just barely, finishing with an 83-79 record in 1968.

They finished the 1969 season with a record of 80–81, so hopes weren’t high for 1970........

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

he Tampa Bay Buccaneers began as an expansion team in the NFL in 1976. Although all expansion teams tend to struggle in their inaugural season, the Buccaneers did not merely struggle; they lost every game, finishing the season with zero wins and 14 losses. They then suffered twelve straight losses in 1977 before winning their last two games.

It marked the second-longest losing streak in NFL history, nearly surpassing the Chicago Cardinals’ 29-game losing streak from 1942 to 1945. Even more humiliating was that in 11 of the 26 games, the Buccaneers failed to score a single point. When asked about his team’s execution, Head Coach John McKay responded, “I’m all for it.”....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Tampa Bay opened the 1979 season by dominating the Detroit Lions 31–16. The Buccaneers’ defense limited Detroit to 231 total yards. Defensive end Lee Roy Selmon scored a 29-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery. Tight end Jimmy Giles scored on a 66-yard touchdown reception, and rookie running back Jerry Eckwood rushed for 121 yards on 20 carries.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark sits down with his son again to talk about how weightlifting competitions have changed over the years. This is the second of a 2-part episode covering these changes.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark sits down with his son again to talk about how weightlifting competitions have changed over the years. This is the first of a 2-part episode covering these changes.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark covers the second part of the 1981 Cincinnati Bengals, a team that came into the season with lower expectations, but found itself in the Super Bowl.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark dives into the 1981 season of the Cincinnati Bengals.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark and his son, Everett, discuss Olympic Weightlifting judging over the years. One of the hotly debated topics is the "press-out" rule.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark's son, Everett, joins the podcast as a special guest to discuss some weightlifting history. This episode focuses on the change in weightlifting weight classes at the Olympics over the years.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Believe it or not, the Philadelphia Phillies franchise dates back to 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was President of the United States. The Phillies were originally known as the Philadelphia Quakers, but they were renamed the Phillies in 1890. Despite some outstanding seasons, the Phillies did not achieve first place until 1915, when they lost to the Red Sox in the World Series, four games to one.

In 1932, Phillies outfielder Chuck Klein won the NL MVP award, and the following year, he claimed the elusive Triple Crown. Despite having some good players on the team, the Phillies wouldn’t win the NL Pennant again until 1950, with pitcher Jim Konstanty winning the NL MVP that same year. However, the Phillies had the misfortune of facing the powerhouse New York Yankees in the World Series and lost four games to zero.

From 1951 to 1975, the Phillies experienced just nine winning seasons and no pennants. One of the few highlights was when pitcher Steve Carlton won the Cy Young Award in 1972. However, that would all change in 1976.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Believe it or not, the Philadelphia Phillies franchise dates back to 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was President of the United States. The Phillies were originally known as the Philadelphia Quakers, but they were renamed the Phillies in 1890. Despite some outstanding seasons, the Phillies did not achieve first place until 1915, when they lost to the Red Sox in the World Series, four games to one.

In 1932, Phillies outfielder Chuck Klein won the NL MVP award, and the following year, he claimed the elusive Triple Crown. Despite having some good players on the team, the Phillies wouldn’t win the NL Pennant again until 1950, with pitcher Jim Konstanty winning the NL MVP that same year. However, the Phillies had the misfortune of facing the powerhouse New York Yankees in the World Series and lost four games to zero.

From 1951 to 1975, the Phillies experienced just nine winning seasons and no pennants. One of the few highlights was when pitcher Steve Carlton won the Cy Young Award in 1972. However, that would all change in 1976.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Believe it or not, the Philadelphia Phillies franchise dates back to 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was President of the United States. The Phillies were originally known as the Philadelphia Quakers, but they were renamed the Phillies in 1890. Despite some outstanding seasons, the Phillies did not achieve first place until 1915, when they lost to the Red Sox in the World Series, four games to one.

In 1932, Phillies outfielder Chuck Klein won the NL MVP award, and the following year, he claimed the elusive Triple Crown. Despite having some good players on the team, the Phillies wouldn’t win the NL Pennant again until 1950, with pitcher Jim Konstanty winning the NL MVP that same year. However, the Phillies had the misfortune of facing the powerhouse New York Yankees in the World Series and lost four games to zero.

From 1951 to 1975, the Phillies experienced just nine winning seasons and no pennants. One of the few highlights was when pitcher Steve Carlton won the Cy Young Award in 1972. However, that would all change in 1976.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark shares the frustrating history of the New York Jets. This is part 4.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark shares the history of the frustrations of the New York Jets. This is part 3.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark shares the frustrating history of the New York Jets. This is part 2.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark shares the history of the frustrations of the New York Jets. This is part 1.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

I started Olympic Weightlifting in 1981, and up to that point, I didn’t know much about weightlifting history or the athletes that made the sport great. I liked watching it when it was televised, which wasn’t too often. Other than seeing weightlifting in the Olympics every four years, the only other times it was televised was on Wide World of Sports. Even then, they mainly focused on the Super Heavyweights. So, the only weightlifter I knew much about was the Soviet strongman Vasily Alexeyev, the first man to clean & jerk 500 lbs. To this day, he remains the only weightlifter to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated (April 14, 1975)......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

I started Olympic Weightlifting in 1981, and up to that point, I didn’t know much about weightlifting history or the athletes that made the sport great. I liked watching it when it was televised, which wasn’t too often. Other than seeing weightlifting in the Olympics every four years, the only other times it was televised was on Wide World of Sports. Even then, they mainly focused on the Super Heavyweights. So, the only weightlifter I knew much about was the Soviet strongman Vasily Alexeyev, the first man to clean & jerk 500 lbs. To this day, he remains the only weightlifter to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated (April 14, 1975)......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After winning the World Series in 1961 and 1962 under Manager Ralph Houk, the 1963 New York Yankees set out to win their fourth American League Pennant in a row and third World Series in a row........

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

From 1933 (their first season in the NFL) through 1971, the Pittsburgh Steelers had only eight winning seasons and had never played in the Championship game.

From 1964 to 1968, the team had a dismal record of 18–49–3. Changes were needed. In 1969, the Steelers replaced Head Coach Bill Austin with Chuck Noll, an assistant coach with the Chargers and Colts from 1960 through 1968.

The Steelers made some good draft selections in 1969. Offensively, they chose quarterback Terry Hanratty and tackle John Kolb. Defensively, they chose defensive end LC Greenwood and defensive tackle Joe Greene, who won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Despite these changes and apparent improvements, the team got worse, finishing the season with one win and thirteen losses.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

From 1933 (their first season in the NFL) through 1971, the Pittsburgh Steelers had only eight winning seasons and had never played in the Championship game.

From 1964 to 1968, the team had a dismal record of 18–49–3. Changes were needed. In 1969, the Steelers replaced Head Coach Bill Austin with Chuck Noll, an assistant coach with the Chargers and Colts from 1960 through 1968.

The Steelers made some good draft selections in 1969. Offensively, they chose quarterback Terry Hanratty and tackle John Kolb. Defensively, they chose defensive end LC Greenwood and defensive tackle Joe Greene, who won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Despite these changes and apparent improvements, the team got worse, finishing the season with one win and thirteen losses.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark has his long time friend Dave DePaola join him again to relive Super Bowl V. They were both die hard Dallas Cowboys fans growing up and this is the second Super Bowl they remember. This is part 2 of a 2 part episode, so if you didn't listen to the last episode, we recommend you start there.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark has his long time friend Dave DePaola join him again to relive Super Bowl V. They were both die hard Dallas Cowboys fans growing up and this is the second Super Bowl they remember. This is part 1 of a 2 part episode. Enjoy!

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode is "from the vault." It was originally aired on episode 6 and 7 as a two-part series on Mark reminiscing about Super Bowl 10.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, Mark Morthier debunks common myths about weight training and provides practical advice for those looking to start or improve their weight training routine. Mark is a certified personal trainer with 16 years of experience in Olympic lifting and Powerlifting and shares insights on how to train effectively without spending endless hours at the gym.

You can read the full blog post here.

Key Takeaways:

1. Time Efficiency: Weight training doesn't require hours at the gym. Effective training can be achieved with a well-structured routine.
2. Listen to Your Body: Understand the difference between discomfort and pain, and avoid overtraining to prevent injuries.
3. Recovery: Not everyone recovers at the same rate. Pay attention to your body's signals and adjust your training accordingly.
4. Personalization: One size doesn't fit all. Customize your training routine to fit your personal goals and lifestyle.
5. Realistic Goals: Set challenging yet attainable goals and be honest about what you want to achieve with weight training.
6. Specialization: Decide which form of weight training suits you best - Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, or Olympic Weightlifting.
7. Competition: Consider whether you want to compete and choose the form of lifting that brings you the most satisfaction.
8. Core Benefits: Weight training is fundamentally about getting stronger and gaining muscle, with additional benefits like speed, flexibility, and coordination.

Exercises Highlighted:

• Full Depth Squats
• Traditional Deadlift
• Overhead Press
• Incline/Flat Bench Press
• Power Cleans
• Situps
• Additional exercises include Front Squats, Leg Extensions, Leg Curls, Hanging Knee Raises, Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns, Upright Rows, Pull-Ups/Chin-Ups, Parallel Bar Dips, and Wrist Rolls.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join Mark and Dave for an exclusive episode of Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network as they sit down with legendary Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly, their all-time favorite NFL player.

Join them for the thrilling conclusion of this three-part series with Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly. In this episode, Bob shares captivating stories from his legendary career with the Dallas Cowboys, including his awe-inspiring feats of strength and memorable moments on the field.

Dive into tales of camaraderie, resilience, and the evolution of football as Bob reminisces about his father's incredible strength, his own college days, and his experiences with fellow football legends. Don't miss this intimate conversation with one of the greatest players in NFL history!

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network features special guest Bob Lilly

(04:18) There were stories about you picking up a Volkswagen in college or. 58 or something

(09:29) Bob Bell: I played racquetball with both hands throughout my career

(16:28) Andrew Nagle: Some modern fans say guys from that era wouldn't make team today

(23:01) You only allowed one touchdown in six games during 1970 NFL season

(28:44) Chuck Holly should have been in Hall of Fame long ago, says Terminator

(34:18) Bob Leto: Did you see the Colorado game last weekend

(38:14) Dave: Michael Strahan made all the plays. If you watch all the films, Dave

(41:44) When I learned to drive the tractor I had my dad mow 50 acres

(47:36) Grace: I have your first rookie card from when you were young

(50:50) This concludes our three part podcast with Bob Lilly

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join Mark and Dave for an exclusive episode of Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network as they sit down with legendary Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly, their all-time favorite NFL player.

In this episode, they continue their captivating conversation with Mr. Lilly. Dive into the gripping tales of the historic "Ice Bowl," the evolution of football gear, and the legendary College All-Star Game. Bob shares fascinating insights into his career, his teammates, and the unforgettable moments on the field.

From discussing the impact of Vince Lombardi's coaching style to reminiscing about the prowess of players like Jim Brown and Dwayne Thomas, this episode is a treasure trove of football history. Don't miss out on these incredible stories from the gridiron!

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Some Packers players were wearing brown gloves during 1960s NFL season

(05:08) There were several players who got frostbite in the College All Star Game

(10:33) It was 18 degrees and they had that pie, that copper tubing underneath

(16:28) March Starr changed the play that Lombardi had called for that game

(24:05) Middle linebacker learns by watching how defensive linemen line up

(29:41) Tex: Dwayne Thompson was a tremendous player at West Texas State

(34:46) You drafted Dwayne Thomas and then traded him away to the Patriots

(39:56) Obviously the game today is drastically different from when you played

(44:18) Bob Lilly pulled an engine out of a truck where the hoist wasn't working

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join Mark on Yesterday's Sports as he continues through the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles season. In this episode, he recounts the thrilling games and pivotal moments that defined the Eagles' path to the Super Bowl.

From their defensive battles against the Raiders to their high-stakes matchups with the Cowboys, relive the highs and lows of a memorable season. Discover how the Eagles overcame challenges and celebrated their first championship in two decades.

Don't miss this captivating exploration of football history in part 2 of the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles season.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join Mark from Yesterday's Sports for a thrilling journey through the history of the Philadelphia Eagles. In this episode, he explores the dramatic rise of the Eagles, from their humble beginnings to their standout 1980 season.

Discover the key moments, standout players like Ron Jaworski and Harold Carmichael, and the intense battles that defined this era.

Whether you're a die-hard Eagles fan or a sports history enthusiast, this episode is packed with fascinating insights and memorable games. Tune in for part one of our deep dive into the Eagles' unforgettable 1980 season!

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join us for a captivating episode of Yesterday's Sports as host Mark Morthier welcomes Kristine Sader, the great-niece of former professional boxer Ace Hudkins, also known as the Nebraska Wildcat. Kristine shares insights from her book, "Boxing with the Nebraska Wildcat," which chronicles Ace's extraordinary boxing career from 1922 to 1932. Discover how Ace earned his fierce nickname, his transition from wrestling to boxing, and his relentless fighting style that led to an impressive record of 92 fights without a knockout loss.

Kristine delves into Ace's journey from Nebraska to California, his remarkable ability to fight across multiple weight classes and his close encounters with boxing legends like Mickey Walker.

Learn about the historic challenges Ace faced, including controversial decisions and near title shots, along with his post-boxing career as a stuntman in Hollywood. Tune in for a fascinating exploration of a boxing legend whose story continues to inspire!

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

CHAPTERS

(00:45) Ace started wrestling before switching to boxing; by age 19, he had 45 fights

(06:49) Ace fought in 92 different weight divisions and never got knocked out

(12:30) Charles Lindbergh fought Ace Hutkins in 1927 at the Polo Grounds

(17:15) In 1928, Ace fought Mickey Walker for the middle late title

(24:19) Ace Dundee almost fought future heavyweight champion Max Baer

(29:20) They wouldn't accept Wikipedia, but they wouldn't believe it

(29:45) Tell us a little about what Ace did after retiring from boxing

(32:23) Are any of these films, like, on YouTube or anything

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join Mark and Dave for an exclusive episode of Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network as they sit down with legendary Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly, their all-time favorite NFL player.

Bob shares captivating stories from his 14-season career with the Dallas Cowboys, his unique off-season training routines, and the challenges of playing in the early days of the NFL. Discover how Bob balanced football with other jobs, his draft experience, and the influence of iconic coach Tom Landry on his life and faith.

This episode is a treasure trove of NFL history and personal anecdotes from one of the greatest defensive linemen in history. Don't miss this chance to hear firsthand from a true sports legend!

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

Chapters:

(00:00) Bob Lilly played 14 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys from 1961 to 1974

(07:50) Dave Lilly says he was drafted by both Texans and Cowboys

(14:04) We had played at some other, um, you know, other teams

(21:06) You mentioned before about how you could leap over blockers in practice

(26:25) Bob Brown: It was 17 below out there when we went out

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join us for part two of our sports memorabilia showcase on the Sports History Network's "Yesterday's Sports." Hosts Mark and Dave DePaolo share their personal collections, including rare finds such as NFL experience mementos, Danbury Mint collectibles, and unique bobblehead dolls. They reminisce about the golden era of sports memorabilia, from 1970s trading cards to cherished autographs, and discuss the evolution of collecting over the decades. Tune in for a nostalgic journey into the world of sports history and memorabilia.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

Chapters:

(00:00) This podcast is part of the Sports History Network

(03:35) I showed you one of these mugs last week. I wanted to break these out again

(06:49) Leroy: I have two favorite players from the 1970s

(09:50) Mark: I bought that plate for 35 bucks. That's a lot, you know

(12:34) Mark: He collects cards like I told you. Gives me stuff every Christmas

(15:26) Mark: I got some great neat stuff. Over the years, it's gotten to the point

(18:36) After he passed away, I took a couple pictures. I Sent him a baseball card of Willie McCovey

(21:10) 1970 was the best year for collectible cards, Mark says

(24:47) Mark: The early 70s, especially 1970, seemed to have so much stuff

(28:19) Mark: I loved watching Bobby Orr. Maybe I wasn't a big hockey fan

(31:19) John Mackey was talking about photography with you when he died

(33:59) Mark: I got these in Arizona when I was 14 or 15

(37:18) One of your most memorable years was 1975 when you had some money

(41:25) Jerry Jones got upset about sun glare at Texas Stadium this week

(45:39) Mark: The Monday Night Football made your whole week. Right. Yep, that's right

(49:02) Mark Snyder: It was a special feeling when that guy got me that jacket

(52:09) Sam Bennett: I made a bet with the milkman 25 years ago

(55:21) Will you see your son on Thanksgiving or no? Yes. Absolutely. All right. Thank you very much. Mark: Yeah. I will.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this nostalgic episode of Yesterday's Sports, host Mark welcomes sports historian and memorabilia collector Dave DePaolo. Together, they take a trip down memory lane, exploring the fascinating world of sports memorabilia. From a Carvel ice cream store adorned with sports treasures to rare Cowboys memorabilia, Dave shares stories of his collection journey.

Discover the history behind unique items like a Cowboys jacket and jersey from the 70s, Super Bowl patches, and autographed photos. Dave's tales include encounters with legendary figures like Tom Landry and Randy White, and the serendipitous moments that led to his collection. Join us for a heartwarming exploration of sports history and the memories that bind fans to their teams!

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Dave DePaolo is a sports historian and a sports memorabilia collector

(05:13) Dave had a newspaper route and he knew I was a big cowboy fan

(09:33) One of the best cowboy jackets I ever got. Or one of the rarest

(14:14) Dave: I started collecting Cowboys team photos when I bought my house

(18:48) Mark: I ended up buying all eight Super Bowl patches

(22:36) Tom Landry played in Super Bowl 2 against the Raiders in 1980

(26:21) The Cowboys were starting to go downhill, Mark says

(29:52) Mark: The Cowboys were for sale in 1989, and speculation started

(33:29) Tom Landry Day was probably the greatest cowboy related event that I ever attended

(37:45) Cowboys against Redskins flag football game over Texas stadium in 1986

(41:55) Bob Lilly gave a great speech about Tom Landry back in 2000

(45:55) Mark: I stumbled upon some amazing artwork from the seventies

(49:14) Mark: Somebody gave me this cowboy boot in 1979

(52:26) Mark: It all started with lunch with Randy White in 1983

(55:25) I think somebody got killed when ice fell off Cowboys stadium in 1989

(59:18) You're talking about 1988. No, don't forget, this is when the team was terrible

EPISODE SUMMARY

 In this thrilling conclusion to our Thanksgiving special, we journey back to one of the most unforgettable games in Dallas Cowboys history. Hosts Mark and Dave DePaolo delve into the 1974 Thanksgiving Day clash against the Washington Redskins, a game that has become legendary among fans. Recounting the unexpected heroics of Clint Longley, who stepped in for an injured Roger Staubach, listeners will relive the excitement of Longley's stunning performance that led to a miraculous victory.

The episode paints a vivid picture of the intense rivalry, the strategic plays, and the memorable moments that defined this classic matchup. From Harvey Martin's impressive sacks to Bob Hayes' crucial catch, the hosts break down every thrilling detail. They also reflect on the broader context of the era, discussing how the Cowboys secured their Thanksgiving game tradition and the evolution of NFL broadcasting.

Alongside game analysis, Mark and Dave share personal anecdotes and showcase a treasure trove of sports memorabilia, including rare cards, autographs, and vintage programs. This episode is a treasure chest for any Cowboys fan or football history enthusiast, offering a nostalgic dive into a golden era of the sport.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Welcome back to part two of our Thanksgiving special on "Yesterday's Sports," where host Mark Morthier and guest Dave DePaolo continue their deep dive into the history of the Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving games. This episode takes listeners back to the thrilling 1974 matchup between the Cowboys and the Redskins, a game filled with dramatic plays and pivotal moments.

Mark and Dave relive the excitement of the Cowboys' strategic plays, including a memorable fake punt and the unexpected heroics of rookie quarterback Clint Longley. As they recount the game, they share anecdotes about key players like Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, and Dwayne Thomas, painting a vivid picture of the era's football landscape.

Whether you're a fan of classic football or just love a good underdog story, this episode is packed with nostalgia and insights that will transport you back to one of the most iconic games in Cowboys history. Don't miss the continuation of this Thanksgiving saga!

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Join us in this special episode of "Yesterday's Sports" as we dive into the rich history of the Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving games. Hosts Mark and Dave DePaolo, both avid Cowboys fans, reminisce about some of the most memorable matchups, including the legendary 1974 "Clint Longley" game against the Redskins.

Relive the excitement of the Cowboys' 1971 victory over the Rams, the dramatic 1993 "Leon Lett" game against the Dolphins, and more. Whether you're a die-hard Cowboys fan or just love football history, this episode is a feast for your ears!

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

Chapters:

(00:00) We thought we would go through some of the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving games

(06:37) Dave: Three Thanksgiving games that I remember from 30 years ago

(12:00) Leon Lanny slid into the ball on Thanksgiving against Miami

(17:06) Washington led Dallas nine to three on Monday Night Football on October 2nd

(24:16) The Redskins never recovered from that loss against the Cowboys in 1979

(27:49) Mark: Cowboys had a hard time stopping Earl Campbell against Houston in 1979

(31:34) The Cowboys were up 21 to 10 at one point against the Oilers

(35:33) Back then, 300 yard games were a big deal. They didn't have all these crazy rules

EPISODE SUMMARY

Show Notes Summary:

In this nostalgic episode, Mark takes listeners on a journey through a lifetime of sports memorabilia collecting, beginning as a young boy in the late '60s with his first football and baseball cards. He shares the thrill of seeing colorful team logos and trading cards with friends, as well as the challenges of saving money as a kid to buy packs.

He explores the evolution of sports cards and inserts from brands like Topps, Kelloggs, and Fleer, and the excitement of hunting for rare items, like mini-posters and 3-D cards. From basement-decorating dreams to valuable lessons from his father about saving money, the story captures the joy and responsibility of being a collector.

Decades later, a co-worker reignites his passion, leading to a collection that continues to hold sentimental value. This episode celebrates the collector's spirit and the cherished memories from a golden era of sports memorabilia.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, Mark goes back in time to relive many of the episodes he's published over the years, in this special 200th edition. He gives a quick reminder to the episodes he released, with a little story behind each one.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Today we’re going to step back in time to the year 1969.

On January 12, 1969, the New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl lll. It’s still one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.

In April 1969, the number of American troops in Vietnam reached its highest point, at approximately 543,400.

On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon.

On August 15, 1969 hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Woodstock, New York for a three-day music festival.

While all this was happening, the Baltimore Orioles were having one of the best seasons in MLB history.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Today we’re going to step back in time to the year 1969.

On January 12, 1969, the New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl lll. It’s still one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.

In April 1969, the number of American troops in Vietnam reached its highest point, at approximately 543,400.

On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon.

On August 15, 1969 hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Woodstock, New York for a three-day music festival.

While all this was happening, the Baltimore Orioles were having one of the best seasons in MLB history.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Before we look back at the Kansas City Chiefs' 1971 season, let’s review the Chief's history, going back to 1960, when they were one of only eight teams in the newly formed American Football League. The Chiefs started their franchise as the Dallas Texans, and in 1962, they won the AFL Championship. 

After moving to Kansas City in 1963, the team struggled, posting a 19–19–4 record over the next three seasons. But in 1966 the Chiefs won another AFL title, and in 1969 they won their third AFL title and the Superbowl.

The 1971 season didn’t get off to a good start. After taking a 14–0 lead at halftime, the Chiefs' pass defense struggled in the second half, giving up some big plays and allowing three touchdowns. The offense played poorly and the Chargers won 21–14....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Before we look back at the Kansas City Chiefs' 1971 season, let’s review the Chief's history, going back to 1960, when they were one of only eight teams in the newly formed American Football League. The Chiefs started their franchise as the Dallas Texans, and in 1962, they won the AFL Championship. 

After moving to Kansas City in 1963, the team struggled, posting a 19–19–4 record over the next three seasons. But in 1966 the Chiefs won another AFL title, and in 1969 they won their third AFL title and the Superbowl.

The 1971 season didn’t get off to a good start. After taking a 14–0 lead at halftime, the Chiefs' pass defense struggled in the second half, giving up some big plays and allowing three touchdowns. The offense played poorly and the Chargers won 21–14......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Before we break down the Oakland Raider's 1967 season, let’s take a quick look at their first seven seasons. Things didn’t look promising in their first three seasons, as the team won only 9 of 42 games. 

Things changed quickly in 1963 when Al Davis took over as head coach and general manager. The Raiders finished the season with a 10–4 record, a huge improvement over their 1–13 record in 1962. Unfortunately for Oakland, they were in the same division as the 11–3 SD Chargers, who went on to win the AFL Championship.

The team digressed in 1964, finishing with a 5–7–2 record, before bouncing back in 1965 & 1966 with identical 8–5–1 records. 

The Raiders made some good moves during the off-season, picking up quarterbacks Daryle Lamonica from the Buffalo Bills, and George Blanda (who was also a top-notch kicker) from the Houston Oilers. They also picked up cornerback Willie Brown from the Denver Broncos and assistant coach John Madden from San Diego State. Additionally, they used their first-round draft pick to get offensive guard Eugene Upshaw from Texas A&M..... 

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Before we break down the Oakland Raider's 1967 season, let’s take a quick look at their first seven seasons. Things didn’t look promising in their first three seasons, as the team won only 9 of 42 games. 

Things changed quickly in 1963 when Al Davis took over as head coach and general manager. The Raiders finished the season with a 10–4 record, a huge improvement over their 1–13 record in 1962. Unfortunately for Oakland, they were in the same division as the 11–3 SD Chargers, who went on to win the AFL Championship.

The team digressed in 1964, finishing with a 5–7–2 record, before bouncing back in 1965 & 1966 with identical 8–5–1 records. 

The Raiders made some good moves during the off-season, picking up quarterbacks Daryle Lamonica from the Buffalo Bills, and George Blanda (who was also a top-notch kicker) from the Houston Oilers. They also picked up cornerback Willie Brown from the Denver Broncos and assistant coach John Madden from San Diego State. Additionally, they used their first-round draft pick to get offensive guard Eugene Upshaw from Texas A&M....... 

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes called him the hardest puncher they ever faced, harder than Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Mike Tyson. Randall Tex Cobb said: “He hit so hard you felt it in your ankles.” The man they were talking about was Earnie Shavers.

Once when George Foreman was asked who the hardest punchers he ever faced were, George responded, “Gerry Cooney, Ron Lyle, and Cleveland Williams.” When asked why Earnie Shavers wasn’t on that list, George responded, “I never fought Shavers, thank goodness!”

Actor Sylvester Stallone once got a taste of the punching power of Shavers when he invited Shavers to audition for the role of “Clubber” Lang. While Stallone was sparring with Shavers, Earnie, not wanting to hurt him, was hitting Stallone with soft jabs. After a few minutes, Stallone said, “Show me something real Earnie.” So, Shavers let him have it, punching him once near the liver. Stallone later said: “Earnie nearly killed me. I went straight to the men’s room and threw up”.....

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 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. See Mark's books below.

Reliving 1970s Old School Football

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Hello, sports fans, and welcome once again to Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network. Today's article will be a bit different. I will be joined by my friend and fellow 1970s Dallas Cowboys fan, Dave Depaola. Since we’re in the middle of an intense heat wave here in the northeast, we thought we’d try to briefly cool things off and talk about the 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Hello, sports fans, and welcome once again to Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network. Today's article will be a bit different. I will be joined by my friend and fellow 1970s Dallas Cowboys fan, Dave Depaola. Since we’re in the middle of an intense heat wave here in the northeast, we thought we’d try to briefly cool things off and talk about the 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Hello, sports fans, and welcome once again to Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network. Today's article will be a bit different. I will be joined by my friend and fellow 1970s Dallas Cowboys fan, Dave Depaola. Since we’re in the middle of an intense heat wave here in the northeast, we thought we’d try to briefly cool things off and talk about the 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Hello, sports fans, and welcome once again to Yesterday's Sports on the Sports History Network. Today's article will be a bit different. I will be joined by my friend and fellow 1970s Dallas Cowboys fan, Dave Depaola. Since we’re in the middle of an intense heat wave here in the northeast, we thought we’d try to briefly cool things off and talk about the 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1976 Olympics were in Montreal, and the weightlifting started on July 18 and ended on July 27. The weight classes remained the same as they had at the 1972 Olympics. The clean & press was eliminated as a competition lift following the 1972 Olympics. These would be the first Olympics where athletes would get tested for anabolic steroids....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Whenever football fans talk about great teams of the past that failed in their quest to win the Super Bowl, the 1977 Denver Broncos get overlooked. Perhaps it’s because this was the team's first successful season in its 18-year existence. Before 1977, the Broncos had only three winning seasons in seventeen years. Whatever the reason, they tend to get overlooked, in my opinion....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Weightlifting at the 1972 Olympics occurred in Munich, Germany, from August 27 to Sept.6. In 1969, the International Weightlifting Federation added two new weight classes: flyweight (52 kg), bantamweight (56 kg), featherweight (60 kg), lightweight (67.5 kg), middleweight (75 kg), light heavyweight (82.5 kg), middle heavyweight (90 kg), heavyweight (110 kg), and Superheavyweight (over 110 kg).

Mark sits down with Conor Heffernan to talk about the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany (in the weightlifting competitions).

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1968 Olympics were held in Mexico City in October. The Weightlifting was held from October 17th to October 21st. Some call these Olympic Games the Autumn Olympics due to its later than usual start. The reason for the late start was to avoid Mexico’s rainy season. The late start turned out to be a blessing because from July 26th until October 2nd, there were student protests and political unrest, which would have caused quite a distraction from the games.

In 1968 there were seven weight classes. 56 kilos/bantamweight, 60/featherweight, 67.5/lightweight, 75/middleweight, 82.5/light heavyweight, 90/middle heavyweight, and anyone over 90 kilos lifted as a heavyweight.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1968 Detroit Tigers don’t seem to get talked about as often as some other great teams in MLB history. Perhaps it’s because they didn’t win two or three World Series in a row like many other teams have. It could also be because the team's success was somewhat overshadowed by the attention directed at their pitcher, Denny McLain, who became the first MLB pitcher to win 30 games in a season since 1934. McLain also had a 1.96 ERA......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Last week, we explored the illustrious careers of Paul Anderson and Tommy Kono. This week, we turn our attention to the legendary Ken Patera and the phenomenal Naim Süleymanoğlu, also known as "Pocket Hercules."

Ken Patera, the first American to clean and jerk 500 pounds, was a multi-sport strength athlete who transitioned from Olympic weightlifting to professional wrestling and even competed in the inaugural World's Strongest Man competition. Despite his potential to rival Vasily Alekseyev, Patera's weightlifting career was cut short due to financial constraints and the removal of the press from Olympic competition.

Naim Süleymanoğlu, often regarded as the greatest pound-for-pound weightlifter in history, won three Olympic gold medals and set numerous world records. His defection from Bulgaria to Turkey marked a significant political and cultural moment, and his achievements in the sport remain unparalleled.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, host Mark Mortier welcomes a special guest, Dr. Conor Heffernan, lecturer in the Sociology of Sport at Ulster University in Northern Ireland. Dr. Heffernan has written extensively on weightlifting, bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strongman competitions. He contributes to Barbend.com and runs the website physicalculturestudy.com.

The duo delves into the lives and careers of four legendary weightlifters: Paul Anderson, Tommy Kono, Ken Patera, and Naim Süleymanoğlu.

Starting with Anderson, known as the "Superman from the South," they explore his achievements, including his gold medals at the 1955 World Championships and the 1956 Olympics, his brief stint in pro wrestling, and his dedication to the Paul Anderson Youth Home.

Next, they discuss Tommy Kono, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a seven-time World Weightlifting Champion. Kono's incredible career, including his internment during World War II and his transition between bodybuilding and weightlifting, is highlighted. His mental strength and Buddhist faith played a crucial role in his success.

Come back for next week's episode to hear about the careers of Ken Patera and Naim Süleymanoğlu.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The date was May 8, 1970: It was game 7 of the NBA Finals, between the LA Lakers and the New York Knicks. I was eight years old, and my brother was eleven. Both of us being Knicks and Willis Reed fans, this would soon become a game we could never forget.

Back in game 5 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Willis Reed went down with a horrible leg injury, forcing him to miss game 6. With the series on the line, this episode of Yesterday’s Sports explains how Willis Reed and his teammates responded in Game 7......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

When I first started competing in Olympic Weightlifting in 1981, I wanted to learn about the sport's history and the men who made it great. I read all the lifting magazines I could find, and one of the first lifters I read about was John Davis. 

Davis’ weightlifting career spanned from 1937 to 1956, and his accomplishments are beyond impressive. Davis was born on Jan 12, 1921, in Smithtown, New York, but grew up in Brooklyn. Davis began competing in 1937 in some local meets. One year later, he shocked the weightlifting world by winning the gold medal at the 1938 World Weightlifting Championships in Vienna, Austria, at just 17 years old in the 82.5 kilo/181.8 lbs weight class. At the time, he was the youngest weightlifter ever to win a world title.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

***This episode was originally aired as episode 29 of Yesterday's Sports***

The 1972 summer games are the first Olympic games I can remember watching. The 1972 games were in Munich, West Germany. The last Olympics to be held in Germany were in 1936 in Berlin. Those Olympics had a dark cloud hanging over them as Adolph Hitler and his Nazis were about to start the Second World War. Things would be different this time........

You can read the full blog post here.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

I began watching Pro Football in 1969, probably sooner, since my father and older brother were sports fans, but I was too young to remember much of it. I turned seven in 1969, and that’s when I started watching with more interest and studying the game's history. 

But admittedly, I knew more about the NFL history than I did about the AFL, and that’s probably still the case. I learned about the Raiders, Chiefs, and Jets because they had all played in the Superbowl. I didn’t know as much about the other seven AFL teams.

So, in this article, I will talk about the 1964 Buffalo Bills. The 1964 Bills had what many consider the best team in AFL history. While some might argue, few would dispute that they had the best defense. They allowed only 918 rushing yards in fourteen games and only 3,878 in total yards. 

The Bills offense wasn’t too shabby either, gaining 5,206 total yards and scoring 400 points.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

I began watching Pro Football in 1969, probably sooner, since my father and older brother were sports fans, but I was too young to remember much of it. I turned seven in 1969, and that’s when I started watching with more interest and studying the game's history. 

But admittedly, I knew more about the NFL history than I did about the AFL, and that’s probably still the case. I learned about the Raiders, Chiefs, and Jets because they had all played in the Superbowl. I didn’t know as much about the other seven AFL teams.

So, in this article, I will talk about the 1964 Buffalo Bills. The 1964 Bills had what many consider the best team in AFL history. While some might argue, few would dispute that they had the best defense. They allowed only 918 rushing yards in fourteen games and only 3,878 in total yards. 

The Bills offense wasn’t too shabby either, gaining 5,206 total yards and scoring 400 points.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark sits down with his long-time friend, Dave DePaola, to talk about the "Thrilla in Manila."  This is part 1 of that conversation.

‘The Thrilla in Manila’ would be the third time that Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier squared off. In the first fight, held at Madison Square Garden in March 1971, Frazier defended his heavyweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision. The second fight in January 1974 also took place at Madison Square Garden. That one would be a 12-round non-title bout. Frazier had lost the title to George Foreman in 1973. This fight would also result in a unanimous decision, but this time in Ali’s favor. The third fight would be the grudge match.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark sits down with his long-time friend, Dave DePaola, to talk about the "Thrilla in Manila." This is part 1 of that conversation.

‘The Thrilla in Manila’ would be the third time that Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier squared off. In the first fight, held at Madison Square Garden in March 1971, Frazier defended his heavyweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision. The second fight in January 1974 also took place at Madison Square Garden. That one would be a 12-round non-title bout. Frazier had lost the title to George Foreman in 1973. This fight would also result in a unanimous decision, but this time in Ali’s favor. The third fight would be the grudge match.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

I belong to several old-school football groups on Facebook, and one of the biggest topics of discussion is who should and shouldn’t be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Everyone has an opinion about who’s worthy of having their bust placed in the Hallowed Hall. If the HOF voting committee took all of these opinions seriously, half of the players who ever played pro football would be in Canton.

Personally, I prefer a Hall of Fame where only the truly elite get inducted. If there needs to be a debate about whether a player should get in, he probably doesn’t belong. Here are a few examples of elite players — guys you don’t need to debate. Bob Lilly, Dick Butkus, Ronnie Lott, Jim Brown, John Hannah, Paul Warfield, Johnny Unitas. These are players you don’t need to think twice about inducting. They are the best of the best, and we don’t need to debate about it....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

One of my favorite weightlifters to watch was Stefan Botev. Botev was born on Feb.14, 1968, in Harmanli, Bulgaria, and was coached by the legendary Ivan Abadzhiev.

Stefan stood 5' 11 (180 centimeters) and competed in the 110 kilo/242 lbs weight class. Later in his career, he moved up to the Superheavyweight class but was light for that class, usually weighing no more than 120 kilos/264 lbs.

His list of achievements is quite impressive. In 1987, at nineteen, he broke the World Record in the clean and jerk, lifting 250 kilos/551 pounds, and won a silver medal at the European Championships. He won the silver medal again at the 1988 European.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After appearing in three straight Super Bowls and winning two, the 1974 Miami Dolphins were determined to become the first team to win three Vince Lombardi trophies. They had the talent and drive to do it, but something disrupted their focus during the off-season.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After appearing in three straight Super Bowls and winning two, the 1974 Miami Dolphins were determined to become the first team to win three Vince Lombardi trophies. They had the talent and drive to do it, but something disrupted their focus during the off-season.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

I recently had the opportunity to interview Steve Wright, who played in the NFL for eleven seasons. Steve began his career in 1981 as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. After playing two seasons with Dallas as a backup offensive lineman and special team’s player, he was traded to the Baltimore Colts, where he became a starter at guard and offensive tackle....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Forty years ago, the baseball world witnessed one of the best seasons a Major League team ever had. I’m not sure I would rank this team in the top ten all-time, but surely they rank in the top fifteen. I’m talking, of course, about the 1984 Detroit Tigers.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland in 1968, the City was hungry for another baseball team. They got one just one year later. As all expansion teams do, they struggled in their first two seasons, going 69–93 in 1969 and 65–97 in 1970. But they had some talented young players, most notably, centerfielder Amos Otis and left fielder Lou Piniella, who won Rookie of the Year in 1969.

In 1971, only their third year in the league, the Royals finished the season with an 85–76 record. In 1973, they upped their win total to 88; in 1975, they improved their record to 91 wins and 71 losses. With talented young players like first baseman John Mayberry, third baseman George Brett, and pitcher Dennis Leonard, it was only a matter of time until the Royals won the AL Western Division. They did precisely that in 1976.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After winning the NFL Championship in 1947 and compiling a combined 21–5 record in 1947 & 1948, the Chicago Cardinals fell hard, having only two winning seasons in the next eleven seasons.

The team moved to Saint Louis in 1960, giving them new life, as they had five winning seasons and only four losing seasons. In 1964, the Cards finished the season with a 9–3–2 record, but unfortunately, it was only good enough for second place in the Eastern Conference as the Browns finished with a 10–3–1 record and went on to win the NFL Championship.

From 1965 to 1969, the team bounced up and down like a yo-yo, with a bad season in 65, a good season in 66, bad in 67, good in 68, and terrible in 1969, finishing 4–9–1.

Cardinal fans didn't expect to have much to cheer about in 1970, but they were in for a surprise. The season didn't start too well. Receiver John Gilliam and tight end Jackie Smith gained over 100 yards, but the Cards allowed six sacks and turned the ball over four times. The result was a 34–13 loss to the Rams. Dating back to the 1969 season, it was their sixth loss in their last seven games......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

From 1956 to 1965, the LA Rams were not a good football team, posting just one winning season in 1958. But things began to change in 1966 with the hiring of George Allen as Head Coach. Allen had been the defensive Coach of the Chicago Bears.

Allen's hiring paid off immediately, as he took a team that had finished the 1965 season with a dismal 4–10 record to an 8–6 record in 1966.

The 1967 roster was loaded with talented players. They had two future Hall of Fame players on defense, Merlin Olsen at defensive tackle and David "Deacon" Jones at defensive end. They also had a future Hall of Fame offensive guard in rookie Tom Mack.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This is part 6 (and the last) of Mark Morthier's weightlifting journey. If you like the weightlifting episodes, Mark has a whole feed dedicated to old-school weightlifting, called :

NO-NONSENSE, OLD-SCHOOL WEIGHTLIFTING HISTORY

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This is part 5 of my weightlifting journey.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark shares his weightlifting origin story.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark and his buddy Dave talk and relive the incredible 1972 NFC semi-final game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Fransisco 49ers.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1971 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs may have been the best football game I've ever seen. To this day, it is the longest NFL game ever played, ending seven minutes and forty seconds into the sixth quarter. It was the second game in NFL history on Christmas day. The Dallas Cowboys had defeated the Minnesota Vikings earlier that day....

In this episode, Mark reminisces about the longest game in NFL history with his longtime friend, Dave Depaola.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark shares his career in Olympic weightlifting and how he got started....

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark shares his career in Olympic weightlifting and how he got started.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week Mark shares his story of getting into weightlifting.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Much has been said and written about the 1985 Chicago Bears, but what about the 1986 Bears? Many believe the 1986 Bears' defense was even better than the 1985 team, despite defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan leaving to become the Head Coach of the Eagles.

The season started with a win against the Browns, but it didn't come easily, as quarterback Bernie Kosar torched the Bears' defense for 289 yards on 23 completions. The Browns' offensive line did a great job, allowing only one sack. Walter Payton rushed for over 100 yards, and the Bears left Soldier Field with a hard-fought 41–31 victory.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After appearing in the NFC Championship game four years in a row, from 1970 to 1973, winning the NFC title in 1970, and winning the Super Bowl in 1971, the Cowboys had no reason to think the 1974 season would be any less successful.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This is a "from the vault" episode of the first time Mark talked with his buddy Dave Depaola on the show to talk about their love of the Dallas Cowboys. Now is a perfect time considering the Cowboys are possibly on a trajectory for the Super Bowl.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week Mark interviews Mike Richman, a journalist and author of many books about the Washington Redskins. This interview focuses mostly on Mike's latest book, George Allen: A Football Life, but they touch on other Redskins' history.Below you can learn more about Mike.

GEORGE ALLEN: A FOOTBALL LIFE (Amazon affiliate link)

MIKE RICHMAN WEBSITE

ABOUT MIKE RICHMAN

Here’s my career by the numbers. I’m a veteran journalist who has authored four books: George Allen: A Football Life; The Redskins Encyclopedia; the Washington Redskins Football Vault; and Joe Gibbs: An Enduring Legacy. I’ve also written thousands of feature and news articles, showing a flair for telling compelling human interest stories, as well as press releases, background papers and talking points, among other types of journalistic and promotional material.

My articles have focused on a wide range of topics and have appeared in a myriad of major publications, including The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and Sports Illustrated magazine. I’ve also written and voiced scripts for television and radio broadcast, hosted a podcast and have interviewed countless interesting people.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The Detroit Lions franchise began in 1930, but they were the Portsmouth Spartans for their first four seasons. From 1930 to 1951, the team had its fair share of success, posting twelve winning seasons compared to eight losing seasons, with two .500 seasons. 1935, the Lions won the NFL Championship, defeating the NY Giants 26–7.

But winning one Championship in 22 years isn't much to brag about. After finishing the 1951 season with a 7–4–1 record, Lions fans were ready for a big year in 1952.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Like many weightlifters, Tim started weight training to get bigger and stronger for football. Tim played defensive tackle and guard for West Essex High School in New Jersey and was good enough to make All-State. He joined the Belleville Barbell Club in New Jersey in 1978 and set his sights on competitive weightlifting. In his first competition, he snatched 90 kilos/198 lbs and clean & jerked 120 kilos/264 lbs at 190 lbs bodyweight.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

As with many weightlifters, Mark's interest in the sport began with watching weightlifting on the Wide World of Sports on ABC television. Mark remembers watching Vasily Alekseyev become the first man to clean & jerk 500 lbs in 1970. This piqued Mark's interest, and he began reading some Strength & Health magazines his older brother handed down to him....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mets fans anxiously awaited the 1986 season. Could this be the year? They didn't have to wait long to see if this team was for real. By the end of May, the Mets were 31–12. By the end of June, they were 50–21. First baseman Keith Hernandez, right fielder Darryl Strawberry, catcher Gary Carter, and pitchers Sid Fernandez and Dwight Gooden were chosen to play in the All-Star game.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mets fans anxiously awaited the 1986 season. Could this be the year? They didn't have to wait long to see if this team was for real. By the end of May, the Mets were 31–12. By the end of June, they were 50–21. First baseman Keith Hernandez, right fielder Darryl Strawberry, catcher Gary Carter, and pitchers Sid Fernandez and Dwight Gooden were chosen to play in the All-Star game.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Most modern-day NFL football fans are familiar with the dynasty of the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2018. The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s, the SF 49ers of the 1980s, and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s. They might even be familiar with the Green Bay Packers of the 1960s. But only the genuinely hard-core football historian knows how good the Cleveland Browns were from 1946 to 1973. If not for one bad season in 1956, the Browns would have gone 27 years without a losing season. The Dallas Cowboys hold the record with twenty in a row.

The Browns franchise dates back to 1946, when they played in the All-American Football Conference. During their four years of play in that league, they won 52 games, lost only four, and tied three times. In 1948, they had a perfect season, going 15–0!.......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The Cowboys' first five years in the NFL were nothing to brag about. They compiled a dismal 18–46–4 record. But that began to change in 1965 when they beat the New York Giants 31–2 in the opening game of the season and had their first non-losing season, finishing with a 7–7 record.

That win against the Giants began a streak of seventeen opening-day wins. The streak ended on Sept. 13, 1982, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 36–28. They won their opener for the next four years in a row, making it 21 out of 22 wins on opening day.

If that's not impressive enough, many of these games were blowouts: 1965 Dallas 31 New York 2, 1966 Dallas 52 New York 7, 1968 Dallas 59 Detroit 13, 1969 Dallas 24 St. Louis 3, 1972 Dallas 28 Philadelphia 6, 1974 Dallas 24 Atlanta 0, 1976 Dallas 27 Philadelphia 7, 1978 Dallas 38 Baltimore 0, 1985 Dallas 44 Washington 14.

The seventeen-game opening-day win streak ended in 1982, and no one has come close to matching it since. The Miami Dolphins came closest, winning eleven in a row from 1992 to 2002......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1971 season started poorly for the 49ers. They lost their opening game to the Falcons 20–17. After easy wins over the Saints and Eagles, they lost to the Rams 20–13. They won their next three games to up their record to 5–2.

Week eight was a rematch with the Vikings, whom they had upset in the playoffs last season. Again, the game was played in Metropolitan Stadium, and again, it was cold, with a wind chill factor of 7 degrees.

Minnesota was having another great season, going into this game with a 6–1 record. The "Purple People Eaters" defense had allowed just 26 points in their last five games. The 49ers didn't fare much better against that defense, scoring only 13 points. But the 49ers defense was no slouch, holding the Vikings offense to three field goals......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Most NFL fans are familiar with the SF 49ers' success during the 1980s and 1990s, but only some fans realize how close the 49ers came to playing in some Super Bowls in the early 1970s.

The franchise began in 1946 in the AAFC. They did pretty well in that league, finishing with a combined 39–15–2 record during its four-year existence. They played in the AAFC Championship in 1949 but lost to the Cleveland Browns.

But as an NFL team, they were average at best. Although they had ten winning seasons from 1950 to 1969, they never played in a Championship game.......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mike Listro began lifting weights in his basement at thirteen after watching the movie Rocky. He started training on the Olympic lifts without coaching in 1978 after watching a weightlifting competition on the T.V. show Wide World of Sports. He picked up training tips from Strength & Health magazine.

In February of 1980, as a spectator, Mike went to a weightlifting competition at the Belleville Barbell Club. He spoke with coach Bucky Cairo, and the next thing he knew, he was lifting in his first competition at the McBurney YMCA in New York City the next day.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Few sports fans have heard of George Pjura. One reason is that Olympic Weightlifting is not a highly popular sport in the USA. Another reason is that George is humble and speaks little of his achievements. But those who know weightlifting know who George is.

I've known George for roughly forty years, and we've trained together numerous times. I enjoy training with him because his approach to training is much like mine: no-nonsense and 100% focused! But training with him could also get a little frustrating because I wasn't on the same level as him. Although we were in the same weight class back then, it was hard to keep up with him because he was lifting heavier weights than me. I was an average Olympic lifter, maybe slightly above average. George was, and still is, a top-level lifter.

We've remained friends throughout the years, and I decided to write an article about him and ask him for an interview......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

After winning back-to-back World Series in 1977 & 1978, the New York Yankees had an off year in 1979, finishing the season with an 89–71 record and failing to reach postseason play. More importantly, their Captain, Thurman Munson, was killed in a plane crash.

The Yankees were determined to get back to the World Series in 1980. Most of their top players from 1979 returned in 1980. Outfielders Bobby Murcer, Lou Piniella, and Reggie Jackson. Infielders Buck Dent, Graig Nettles, and Willie Randolph. Pitchers Ed Figueroa, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, and Luis Tiant. Relief Pitchers Rich "Goose" Gossage and Ron Davis......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week Mark takes a different angle and interviews someone he met at the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement weekend. Brooke Maratta is the host of the Write It Down Podcast. Below is her about information (****Taken from the website*****).

ABOUT BROOK MARATTA

My name is Brooke Maratta, and I love talking to anyone and everyone. After graduating college, I found myself in the familiar yet unprecedented unknown. No one really warns you about the space between post-grad life and actually starting a life. I applied for jobs in the TV industry and cried a lot. I felt like a failure. My resumé couldn’t help me, my friends couldn’t console me, and my prayers felt unheard. I knew I someday wanted to host a show interviewing guests, but I didn’t know it would take shape in the form of a podcast in my hometown. 

You gotta start somewhere…

I named my show Write it Down because my mentor always told me to write things down in order to remember what God has done in my life, to reflect on my past self, and to organize my thoughts. I was avidly journaling when I encountered the lowest point in my life. So, why not name my show based on the reality of my circumstance? There is, however, a double entendre. When you listen to WID, you will notice each guest gives the audience one point to write down and remember. (Check out our WID WALL)

I hope when you listen to Write it Down you are challenged, inspired, and encouraged. It is often during the most difficult seasons in life where God reveals Himself, His plan, and His provision for you. This podcast is living proof that His silence does not mean He is absent. Sit back, relax, and get your pens ready…

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1970s was an up-and-down decade for the Baltimore Colts. After a disappointing 8–5–1 record in 1969, Head Coach Don Shula left to coach the Miami Dolphins and was replaced by Don McCafferty.

After the NFL and AFL merger, the Colts were one of three NFL teams to start the 1970 season in the AFC. After barely defeating the SD Chargers in week one, the Colts were humiliated by the defending Super Bowl Champion KC Chiefs 44–24 on Monday Night Football. But the team bounced back to win their next six games, including a 35–0 win over the Dolphins. They won four of their next six games to finish the season with an 11–2–1 record.....

You can read the full article 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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The first Super Bowl I can remember watching was Super Bowl IV. I was roughly two and a half months shy of my eighth birthday, and having watched the 1969 season with my father and older brother, I was beginning to understand the game well. I was reading everything football-related I could get my hands on, including the back of my 1969 Topps football cards.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

Reliving 1970s Old School Football

EPISODE SUMMARY

The first Super Bowl I can remember watching was Super Bowl IV. I was roughly two and a half months shy of my eighth birthday, and having watched the 1969 season with my father and older brother, I was beginning to understand the game well. I was reading everything football-related I could get my hands on, including the back of my 1969 Topps football cards.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

You can call me old-fashioned– not with the times, a dinosaur–but I miss 1970s football. Perhaps it meant so much to me because of my age. I was eight years old in 1970 and 17 years old in 1979. For most people, so many of life’s memories are between the ages of 8 and 17. I can remember it all like it was yesterday. I played football and watched it with equal enthusiasm.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are just days away. I’ll be going on behalf of the Sports History Network, along with two others from the Network. Hopefully, the three of us will have much to share with fans of the show when we get back home.

But the induction ceremonies will soon be just a memory, and it will be time again for the endless debate about who is worthy of putting on the gold jacket in 2024......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

You can call me old-fashioned– not with the times, a dinosaur–but I miss 1970s football. Perhaps it meant so much to me because of my age. I was eight years old in 1970 and 17 years old in 1979. For most people, so many of life’s memories are between the ages of 8 and 17. I can remember it all like it was yesterday. I played football and watched it with equal enthusiasm.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

You can call me old-fashioned– not with the times, a dinosaur–but I miss 1970s football. Perhaps it meant so much to me because of my age. I was eight years old in 1970 and 17 years old in 1979. For most people, so many of life’s memories are between the ages of 8 and 17. I can remember it all like it was yesterday. I played football and watched it with equal enthusiasm.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

1980 would mark the fourth annual Worlds Strongest Man Competition. But this year's event would not occur in California like the past three years. This year's competition occurred in Vernon Valley/Great Gorge, New Jersey. Ten men would compete, with four men hailing from outside the U.S. Four of the ten men were returning from last year's competition.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

So far, we've covered the first and second Worlds Strongest Man Competitions. Today we'll look at the third competition, which occurred in 1979, again at Universal Studios in California. As was the case in 1978, there were ten competitors, but only two were non-Americans.

Defending champion Bruce Wilhelm retired, but there were four returning competitors. Bob Young competed in 1977 and returned after missing the 1978 event. John Kolb, Lars Hedlund, and Don Reinhoudt returned after doing well in 1978.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

With a long history of losing and a 1–13 record in 1969, Steelers fans hoped for better days in the 1970s. When 1970 started out with three straight losses, it looked like another long season for Pittsburgh. But after winning four of their next five games, Steeler fans felt optimistic. But their optimism quickly faded when the Steelers lost five of their next six to finish the season 5–9. Defensive tackle Joe Greene and linebacker Andy Russell made the Pro Bowl.....

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1970s Dallas Cowboys, an iconic era for the team, took a tumultuous journey from a rocky start to eventually becoming Super Bowl champions. Despite embarrassing losses early in the 1970 season, the Cowboys miraculously turned things around, advancing to Super Bowl V, only to suffer a narrow defeat to the Baltimore Colts. The 1971 season saw ups and downs, but with Roger Staubach as starting quarterback, they ultimately won Super Bowl VI.

A shoulder injury to Staubach in 1972 put the team on shaky ground, yet they rallied to an impressive comeback in the playoffs, only to lose the NFC Championship to the Redskins. Despite several victories in subsequent years, injuries and inconsistency kept the Cowboys from reaching the Super Bowl again until 1975, losing narrowly to the Steelers. The Cowboys achieved their second World Championship in 1977, in large part due to the addition of rookie running back Tony Dorsett.

Despite their valiant efforts, the Cowboys failed to secure another Super Bowl win for the remainder of the decade, although they remained a dominant force in the NFL. The team's overall record for the decade was an impressive 105-39.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode provides a detailed chronicle of the Miami Dolphins' performance from 1970 to 1979. Under head coach Don Shula, the Dolphins improved their record significantly, reaching multiple playoffs, three Super Bowl appearances, and two Super Bowl victories, including a perfect season in 1972. Notable players like Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, and Jake Scott consistently made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro rosters throughout this period, playing a crucial role in the team's successes.

However, the departure of key players such as Csonka and Warfield in 1975 led to some fluctuation in the team's performance. Despite these challenges, the Dolphins maintained a strong regular season record of 104–39–1 and a post-season record of 8–5 over the decade, capturing five division titles, three AFC titles, and two Super Bowl titles.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Explore the decade-long journey of the Oakland Raiders from 1970 to 1979, marked by ups and downs, playoff battles, and star performances. The narrative captures key moments, including their Super Bowl victory in 1976, alongside individual player achievements. The article details seasonal records, Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations, and significant games, painting a comprehensive picture of this historic period in Raiders' football.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Delve into the dynamic decade of the Minnesota Vikings from 1970 to 1979, exploring their journey from redemption to Super Bowl disappointments. This comprehensive account captures the team's triumphs, trials, and critical trades, with key insights into their performance, player statistics, and management decisions. Follow the team's evolution across seasons, with detailed analyses of their championship pursuits, player accolades, and roster changes, all against the backdrop of the evolving NFL landscape during these years.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Relive the glory days of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1970s with this comprehensive article. From the highs of championship runs to the lows of playoff misses and controversies, this piece covers it all. Follow the Rams' journey through the decade as they battled their way through an array of challenges to build a lasting legacy.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode provides a detailed rundown of the Washington Redskins' seasons during the 1970s, starting with Coach Vince Lombardi's passing and Bill Austin's subsequent losing season. It goes on to cover George Allen's first year as Head Coach in 1971, Billy Kilmer replacing Sonny Jurgensen as quarterback, and the Over the Hill Gang's success in the 1972 playoffs, ultimately leading to a loss in the Super Bowl to the undefeated Miami Dolphins.

The episode covers the Redskins' subsequent seasons, including their 1977 NFC Championship win and the decision to dismiss Coach George Allen, as well as the team's struggles with quarterback controversies and missed opportunities. Overall, the Redskins had a regular season record of 91–52–1, post-season record of 2–5, one division title, one NFC title, and zero Super Bowl titles.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark and Dave are back. This time to chat about an overview of the Dallas Cowboys draft picks through the years. This is part 2.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Mark and Dave are back. This time to chat about an overview of the Dallas Cowboys draft picks through the years. This is part 1.

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 Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates were a team that will forever be remembered in baseball history. With a roster of talented players and a determined manager, they overcame numerous obstacles to secure their place as champions. From the early days of spring training to the final moments of the World Series, the 1971 season was filled with unforgettable moments and incredible performances. Let's take a closer look at this legendary team and the season that made them champions.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Although a player's strike caused the 1972 season to start a week and a half late, the defending champion Pittsburgh Pirates had another great season, finishing with the best record in the Major Leagues. On Sept 30th, Roberto Clemente reached his goal of getting 3,000 hits in his career. The Pirates would face the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS and held a two games to-one lead.

They lost the fourth game but were three outs away from another NL pennant in game five when the Reds scored two runs to win it, and the Pirates' season was over. It was a tremendous disappointment for the team, but it paled compared to what happened two and a half months later when Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

Much has been said and written about the 1968 New York Jets, and with good reason; after all, they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in football history. But how did the Jets do the following season?

The Jets started off the 1969 season with a 33-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills at War Memorial Stadium. It was their seventh win in a row dating back to the previous season. Matt Snell picked up right where he left off in the Superbowl, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Don Maynard also had a big game, gaining 118 yds receiving and scoring a touchdown. The Jets' defense held Buffalo to just 59 yds rushing, and linebacker Paul Crane intercepted a pass and ran it 23 yards for a touchdown......

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

EPISODE SUMMARY

In my last article, I wrote about the first World's Strongest Man contest in 1977. Olympic weightlifter Bruce Wilhelm easily won the competition and returned in 1978 to defend his title. The total number of competitors increased from eight in 1977 to ten in 1978, but Wilhelm was the only one returning from the previous year.

While last year's competition had only one non-American participant, this year had three. The ten events remained the same, and the venue remained the same, Universal Tour Center in Hollywood.

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 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. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)