As often as I try to do this—but probably still don’t do it enough … a HUGE THANK YOU to the wonderful women and men we’ve been so fortunate to have on “SportsTalk” as our guests this past year. Here’s a quick look at only some of the very memorable people on our program during 2016 (in no particular order):
- NFL/MLB Associated Press Writer Rob Maaddi
- Hall of Fame/Philadelphia Eagles Radio Play-by-Play Voice Merrill Reese
- Redskins Radio Announcer/Host Scott Jackson
- ABC7 (DC) Sports Director Alex Parker
- Detroit Pistons’ Guard Darrun Hilliard (former Liberty HS great)
- Dallas Cowboys’ Wide Receiver KJ Williams (former Liberty HS great)
- MLB.com Sr. Sports Writer Jim Callis
- Nationals’ Beat Writer Bill Ladson
- Nationals’ Play-by-Play Announcer Charlie Slowes
- Olympians Marty Nothstein & Joetta Clark-Diggs
- DCIAA Women’s Official/Fmr. Pro Football Player (and one of only three Varsity Head Football Coaches ever) Natalie Randolph
- Joseph Basketball Standout / Fmr. DMV Star Isaiah Miles
- George Washington Men’s Basketball Head Coaches Mike Lonergan
- George Washington Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jen Rizzotti
- Longtime Georgetown Men’s Basketball Play-by-Play Voice Rich Chvotkin & other Hoyas athletes
- Lafayette College Head Basketball Coach Fran O’Hanlon
- American University Head Basketball Coach Mike Brennan
- Washington Times Redskins Beat Writer/CBS Radio’s Rick Snider
- Washington Post Beat Writer’s Eric Goldstein
- Philadelphia Daily News’ Jeff Moeller
- Play-by-Play Announcers for Phillies & Nationals Minor League Affiliates: Mike Ventola, Matt Provence & Terry Byron
- Head Coaches from HD Woodson, DeMatha, Sidwell Friends, Gonzaga High Schools
- Championship teams including Parkland boys basketball team, Nazareth girls basketball team, Notre Dame football team, Emmaus field hockey team, Parkland volleyball team and others
- NY Giants Beat Writer James Kratch
- Washington Times Redskins/Nationals Beat Writer Todd Dybas
- ESPN Radio (DC) Morning Show Host Kevin Sheehan
- ESPN Radio (Philly) Morning Show Anchor/Host Eytan Shander
- Redskins “Breaking Burgundy” Creator/Fmr. Comcast SportsNet “Insider” Ben Standig
- “FootballStories” Magazine Editor/Show Hosts Al Thompson & Rock Hoffman
- ESPN Draft Analyst/Fangraph’s Eric Longenhagen
- Members of this year’s PA Football Hall of Fame Inductees
- Writers from The Morning Call, Express-Times & LehighValley.com
- All the RCN Sports Announcers & Commentators
- Interviews with current Phillies & Nationals players & top prospects
Also, a reminder to watch our special “SportsTalk: 2016-in-Review” show that will be airing at different times on RCN-TV around the holiday season as Senior Morning Call Sports Writer Keith Groller and myself will take a look back at the top players, coaches, teams, special memories and more. Our subject matter will be focused primarily on teams in the RCN-TV coverage area in the Lehigh Valley, Delaware Valley and Washington, DC regions, but we will mix in a few national topics of conversation as well.
You will also be able to hear the podcast of this show at rcn.com/atvn/sports-talk as it will be made available over the next few days.
Now for “part one” of my year-in-review thoughts/reflections for just a few of the most requested topics of conversation over the last 12 months.
- Pennsylvania’s New Classifications & Playoff System for HS Sports
No Lehigh Valley sports story came close to the interest (and complaining) of the revamped classification for PIAA sports and the outline of the playoff system.
- The Rise & Fall of the Philadelphia Eagles
After having covered the Philadelphia Eagles for several years, I know that there’s no fan base that goes to greater extremes than the faithful followers of Philly’s NFL franchise. Once the Eagles defeated (destroyed?) the Steelers Week 3, there was no containing the (insane?) amount of the enthusiasm for this team and its first-year head coach, first year quarterback, suspect wide receiving core, weak secondary, et al. It was practically assumed a deep trek into the NFL inevitably and anyone (like, perhaps, me?) suggesting that the team was still a year away was dismissed as being an “overly negative media opinion.”
Then, reality sent in, sending the Eagles’ into a tailspin in which they have yet to recover, with everyone from Doug Pederson to Carson Wentz to Fletcher Cox falling under heavy scrutiny.
- The Nationals Finally Getting to the Playoffs
The “SportsTalk” camera crew and I had the good fortune of seeing the Nationals’ top prospect Trea Turner play for Triple-A Syracuse (boy, did he put on a display!) and talked with him after an April game just shortly before he received his call-up to the Nationals. Turner did not disappoint once he got to the Major Leagues—even with a position change from shortstop to center field while at the game’s highest level–and showed the same amazing abilities in helping Washington advance to the NLDS.
Don’t forget to check back for “part two” for more commentary on sports highlights from the 2016 calendar year in the next installment of the “SportsTalk Shop.”
And, of course, a very happy holiday season and prosperous New Year’s for all of you faithfully following us here on the blog in 2016!
