Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Minnesota Twins were just four games over .500 at the All-Star Break, in third place in their division and 10 games back of the league-leading Yankees. But since then, the Twins have turned from playoff long-shot to maybe the best team in the league. Bill speaks to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune about the World Series contender no one saw coming.

Chicago White Sox legend Frank Thomas played for 15 years at Comiskey Park. Hall-of-fame catcher Carlton Fisk spent 13 years with the team. But no White Sox legend has come close to Nancy Faust. She has played organ for the team for 41 seasons, and she expects this to be her last. Only A Game’s Philip Graitcer has the story on the career of one of baseball’s last organists.

Reggie Bush still maintains that he did not accept illegal payments during his playing days at USC, but the running back has decided to give back his 2005 Heisman Trophy anyway. Bill talks to T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times, who remembers USC’s tainted glory days and explain how the program will rebuild.

George Gipp may be the best player ever to play for Notre Dame, but the Gipper rarely showed up to class. He preferred to spend his time shooting pool and playing poker instead. Bill discusses Gipp and his legendary coach, Knute Rockne, with Jack Cavanaugh, author of The Gipper.

More concussions in the NFL, more cheating in college football, and Tom Brady’s bad haircut…football is back! Charlie Pierce joins Bill to celebrate America’s game and discuss the rest of the week’s sports news.

Only A Game’s electronic mailbag was filled with responses to two pieces by Karen Given this week. Bill swallows his pride and responds to our listeners’ input.

In 2000, Bloom Township high-school forward Joe Chapman tipped in a shot to win a playoff game over Brother Rice high school. Players on the winning squad say he got it off in time, while Brother Rice players still contend the buzzer sounded first. Now, ten years older and in slightly worse shape, the Chicago teams have a chance to play a rematch to settle the dispute once and for all. Alex Keefe from WBEZ in Chicago reports.