Rich Take On Sports

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Sports & Recreation
**Rich Take On Sports**

Host Richmond Weaver explores the influence and impact of sports through conversations with personalities and luminaries who have been impacted, built, and inspired by the role of sports in their lives as they share their personal stories.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 40: George Hincapie | Former Pro Cyclist & 17-Time Tour de France Finisher Dec 08, 2017

Show notes

Episode 40: George Hincapie | Former Professional Cyclist & 17-Time Tour de France Finisher

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: George Hincapie
- Unsure how many total miles he has ridden on a bike in his career
- First memory on a bicycle was his sister’s bike learning how to ride but he didn’t really enjoy riding until later on while riding on the weekends with his dad
- Didn’t play other sports growing up and had challenges fitting in as a teenager until he reached a higher level and people recognized his greatness
- Had a difficult transition as pro early on because it was hard to adjust to living in a foreign country with language barriers and the cultural differences
- His strengths were the super intense 1-day races with long distances
- Knowing his strengths helped ensure a long professional career
- Winning a stage in the 2006 Tour de France was a special moment but there are many special moments from his career
- Performance Enhancing Drugs were prevalent during his early professional days and the pressure to compete led to his use but making the decision to ride clean has been a focal point for him as he passes on his wisdom to young riders
- Feels that the sport of cycling is making great progress and strides regarding PED’s and feels very confident that the sport will only continue to increase in popularity
- Focuses now on his team of riders, Hincapie Sportswear, and his hotel endeavor with Hotel Domestique
- Words of Wisdom from George Hincapie: “In all walks of life, you must block doubtful thoughts in order to get the best performance from your body.”

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow George Hincapie on Twitter: @ghincapie

To Follow George Hincapie on Instagram: @ghincapie

To Learn More Information about George: George Hincapie

To Learn More Information about Hincapie Sportswear: Hincapie Sportswear

To Learn More Information about Hotel Domestique: Hotel Domestique

To Find Information about George Hincapie Book: The Loyal Lieutenant

Feature Image Photo Credit: Frank Fife/Getty Images

Episode 39: Kendall Gill | Former NBA Veteran & University of Illinois All-American Dec 01, 2017

Show notes

Episode 39: Kendall Gill | Former NBA Veteran & University of Illinois All-American

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Kendall Gill
- Enjoyed the time playing in the Big 3 League founded by Ice Cube but felt his age negatively impacted how he was viewed as a player
- Stays in shape today through boxing
- Boxing was his first sport he started playing and didn’t even like basketball
- Played multiple sports and starting playing basketball when his family moved to the suburbs of Chicago
- He was convinced that he would play at Michigan St., however, the morning after making the decision to attend Michigan St. he changed his mind a signed with Illinois
- Greatest moment in his playing career is making the Final Four in 1989 with Illinois on the team labeled, “Flyin’ Illini”
- Suffered devasting migraine headaches throughout his NBA career
- Feels that he could be in the Hall of Fame if he wouldn’t have let so many distractions cloud his mental focus
- Biggest regret in his NBA career is not agreeing to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers
- Currently working as an NBA studio analyst for Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago for the Chicago Bulls
- Words of Wisdom from Kendall Gill: “Define yourself for yourself or you’ll be trapped in someone else’s fantasies and eaten alive.”

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow Kendall Gill on Twitter: @KendallG13

To Follow Kendall Gill on Instagram: @officialkendallgill

Feature Image Photo Credit: Bernie Nunez/Getty Images

Episode 38: Rob Vaka | Athlete Mentor – Helping NFL Players Tackle Life After Football Nov 24, 2017

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Episode 38: Rob Vaka | Athlete Mentor – Helping NFL Players Tackle Life After Football

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Rob Vaka
- Grew up in New Jersey with 2 brothers and played all sports and gravitated towards soccer
- Playing soccer led to playing football as a kicker and had aspirations of kicking in college
- Interested in University of Florida however due to recruiting violations in the mid ’80’s the Gators were placed on probation
- Dad played college football in Ohio and Rob visited Ohio and fell in love with Wittenburg University
- Rob went on to play all 4 years at Wittenberg University and set several kicking records
- NFL aspirations were short-lived as his feels today that his mindset at that time wasn’t ready to compete at that level
- Moved into business with Mobile and eventually was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 31 in 1999
- After beating cancer, his perspective of positivity was only enhanced and now focuses on significance vs. success
- Views himself as a mentor to professional athletes and connector for career opportunities after their playing days are finished while focusing on giving back
- Words of Wisdom from Rob Vaka: “The Golden Rule… do unto others as you’d want done unto you.”

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow Rob Vaka on Twitter: @RobVaka

To Follow Rob Vaka on Instagram: @robvaka

To Learn More About Brink of Midnight Podcast: Brink of Midnight

To Learn More About 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry: 4:8 Principle

To Learn More About Tim Jennings’ Elite Sports Academy: Elite Sports Academy

Feature Image Photo Credit: Ray of Hope Foundation

Episode 37: Digger Phelps | Former Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Head Coach Nov 17, 2017

Show notes

Episode 37: Digger Phelps | Former Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Head Coach

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Digger Phelps
- Played all sports with the neighborhood kids in Beacon, NY
- Father was a funeral home director and mortician
- He convinced his parents to let him try coaching basketball instead of going to embalming school to continue in the family business
- Spent one year at Fordham as Head Coach and then took the job at the University of Notre Dame in 1971
- Defeated seven #1 ranked teams in 20 years
- Most notable #1 ranked team to defeat was UCLA ending their 88-game win streak
- Felt it was time to move on after 20 years as Head Coach at Notre Dame
- Briefly contemplated a job at DePaul but decided his coaching days were done and moved into broadcasting and as an analyst with ESPN in 1994
- Retired from ESPN in 2014 and stays active with painting and recently published another book, entitled “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me”
- Words of Wisdom from Digger Phelps: “Never assume, follow-up, and always have a back-up.”

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow Digger Phelps on Twitter: @DiggerPhelps

To Learn More about “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me” Book by Digger Phelps: “Father Ted Hesburgh, He Coached Me”

Feature Image Photo Credit: ESPN

Episode 36: Bryce Johnson | Founder & President UNPACKIN ‘it Ministries Nov 10, 2017

Show notes

Episode 36: Bryce Johnson | Founder & President UNPACKIN ‘it Ministries

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Bryce Johnson
- Basketball & swimming were his first love of sports
- Two younger brothers and dad was an athlete and both brothers became better athletes
- Moved away from swimming but coached in high school and played church league basketball as his faith became a main focal point in his life in high school
- Realized that sports was such a great way to connect with people from different backgrounds
- Attended Appalachian State University and worked for the radio station on campus (WASU)
- Started Sports YAPP after graduating and convinced a friend to be his producer and gained airtime in Charlotte but pressures were too great to continue with that model
- Fox Sports 730 launched in Charlotte and was able to get airtime on with Sports YAPP
- Something was missing which led him to found UNPACKIN ‘it Ministries and the UNPACKIN ‘it radio show and podcast
- Continues to focus on reaching and connecting with people through sports and faith
- Words of Wisdom from Bryce Johnson: “Stay centered. Allow yourself to get upset but don’t lose sight in where you’re going and when good things happen, allow yourself a pat on the back but don’t get lost in where you’re going.”
Weekly Words of Wisdom:
- “Sport is not only a form of entertainment but also – and above all, I would say – a tool to communicate values that promote the good that is in humans and help build a more peaceful fraternal society.” Pope Francis

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow Bryce Johnson on Twitter: @BRYCERADIO

To Learn More About UNPACKIN ‘it Ministries: UNPACKIN ‘it

Feature Image Photo Credit: Bryce Johnson/UNPACKIN ‘it

Episode 35: Dan Mowrey | Former Florida St. University Placekicker Nov 03, 2017

Show notes

Episode 35: Dan Mowrey | Former Florida St. University Placekicker

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Dan Mowrey
- Baseball was his first love
- Started playing soccer and begged his dad to play football
- Practiced in a field kicking over a pear tree
- Chose FSU over Florida after first committing to Florida
- Redshirted Freshman year at FSU and it took time to regain full confidence
- Uniquely tied to the FSU-Miami rivalry after missing game-tieing kick in final seconds in 1992 known as “Wide Right II”
- The missed kick does not define him and was actually one of the best things to happen to him
- NFL opportunity never materialized and eventually decided on law school and is now a partner in Mowrey, Shoemaker, Beardsley law firm in St. Augustine, FL
- Words of Wisdom from Dan Mowrey: “Stay centered. Allow yourself to get upset but don’t lose sight in where you’re going and when good things happen, allow yourself a pat on the back but don’t get lost in where you’re going.”
Weekly Words of Wisdom:
- “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” President Theodore Roosevelt

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Learn More about Mowrey, Shoemaker, Beardsley Law Firm: Mowrey, Shoemaker, Beardsley

Feature Image Photo Credit: John Biever, Getty Images

Episode 34: Tony Villani | Founder and Owner of XPE Sports Oct 27, 2017

Show notes

Episode 34: Tony Villani | Founder and Owner of XPE Sports

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Tony Villani
- Became involved in sports because his dad played football at Duke
- Dad wouldn’t let him play football though
- Basketball was his favorite sport
- Graduated from Clemson University and received a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from George Washington University
- Worked with Orlando Magic before a job as Director Of Human Performance at Cris Carter’s FAST Program
- Founded XPE Sports in Atlanta in 2002
- Trained Jamal Lewis for free which ultimately led to breakout seasons for Jamal
- Relocated XPE Sports to Boca Raton, FL in 2009 and created the SHREDmill in 2011
- Has now become one of the most trusted and respected trainers for speed and agility training for NFL Combine
- Words of Wisdom from Tony Villani: “Sometimes praise can be hard to deal with so make sure to stay humble and try not to be conceited.”
Weekly Words of Wisdom:
- “There’s a thin line between confidence and arrogance. It’s called Humility. Confidence smiles while arrogance smirks.” Author Unknown

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow XPE Sports on Twitter: @xpe_sports

To Follow Tony Villani on Twitter: @tonyvillaniXPE

To Follow XPE Sports on Instagram: @xpesports

To Follow XPE Sports on Facebook: XPE Sports

To Learn More about XPE Sports: XPE Sports

Feature Image Photo Credit: Sun Sentinel

Episode 33: Dave Odom | Former Wake Forest & South Carolina Head Coach Oct 20, 2017

Show notes

Episode 33: Dave Odom | Former Wake Forest & South Carolina Men’s Basketball Head Coach

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Dave Odom
- Grew up in Goldsboro, NC playing all sports
- Could have a been a coach in football or baseball but his first job opportunity was coaching basketball
- First college job came after his time working at the Five Star camp in Pennsylvania
- Left East Carolina as Head Coach because he missed the ACC and it was a great opportunity to work with Terry Holland at University of Virginia
- The Wake Forest job came about very quickly and ultimately decided to leave for the University of South Carolina because he felt it was time for a change
- Misses coaching but doesn’t miss the recruiting and fundraising
- Words of Wisdom from Dave Odom: “Don’t be in too big of a hurry, let things happen naturally. Enjoy yourself, enjoy your family and keep a good balance in life.”
Weekly Words of Wisdom:
- “Ability is what you’re capable of doing, Motivation determines what you do, and Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Feature Image Photo Credit: University of South Carolina

Episode 32: Ally McDonald | LPGA Tour Member Oct 13, 2017

Show notes

Episode 32: Ally McDonald | LPGA Tour Member

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Ally McDonald
- Her journey started with her dad modifying a 3-iron when she was 4-years old
- She loved any sport with a ball and the thrill of competing
- Her favorite sport was basketball but her talent from God was Golf
- She petitioned to be on the boy’s high school team because there wasn’t a girl’s team at her high school and she was allowed to play but from the boy’s tees and eventually won the Boy’s Mississippi High School State Championship
- She attended Mississippi State University before embarking on the Symetra Tour and eventually the LPGA Tour
- Biggest adjustment on tour is understanding the challenges with travel
- While the first half of her rookie season on the LPGA Tour wasn’t up to her expectations, she feels that she is becoming much more comfortable in the 2nd half of the tour and her results are showing that
- Sports has given her an opportunity to have a platform to show people that in whatever you do give God the glory
- Words of Wisdom from Ally McDonald: 1 Corinthians [10:31] “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Weekly Words of Wisdom:
- “Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, and the best things come to those who don’t give up.” Unknown

Social Media:

To Follow Ally McDonald on Twitter: @allymc10

To Follow Ally McDonald on Instagram: @a_mc10

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Feature Image Photo Credit: Symetra Tour

Episode 31: Dabo Swinney | Clemson University Head Football Coach Oct 06, 2017

Show notes

Episode 31: Dabo Swinney | Clemson University Head Football Coach

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Rich Spotlight: Dabo Swinney
- His journey doesn’t seem real at times but so gives thanks to God each day
- Youngest of 3 boys growing up so sports has always been a part of his life
- Grew up wanting to be a doctor (pediatrician)
- His best sport was baseball and his favorite sport is basketball
- Felt he had more chances to make the Alabama football team because the number of players on a football team
- His colloquialisms such as “All In”, “The Fun is in the Winning”, “Control the Input” probably comes his dad
- Sports has given him family, structure, direction, toughness, how to win and lose, and how to set goals
- Words of Wisdom from Coach Swinney: “Keep your eyes on the lord, believe in yourself, and don’t quit.”
Weekly Words of Wisdom:
- “When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you.” Unknown

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