Who are these two fellas and why would they be featured in the same #FanTeaser this time of year?
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
When I launched it over four years ago I envisioned speaking to many of the sports fans I knew personally, and once I was finished talking to my them, I figured the show would have run its course.
Here we are 285 episodes later and I’ve most assuredly left my Rolodex a time or two.
The latest example is this episode’s guest, Merrimack College associate professor Dr. Aaron Mansfield.
Aaron contacted me about joining Conversations, and as I researched his credentials, I felt like he’d be a fine fit for this audience.
Aaron, whose Ph.D. is in Sports Consumer Behavior, works in Merrimack’s Sports Management Program and lists his areas of expertise on Merrimack’s website as “healthy fandom, sports consumer behavior, health and well-being, and sports marketing.” He focuses much of his research on the relationship between sports fandom and well-being.
I viewed my Conversation with Aaron as moving down similar paths as those with Indiana University’s Dr. Edward Hirt (S:3, E:7) and Murray State University’s Dr. Daniel Wann (S:4, E:40), a pair of academics whose roles are exploring the psychology of sports fans.
Aaron and I certainly discuss that, but we also spend a fair amount of time on one of his favorite research topics: the relationship between being a sports fan and one’s personal health. It’s a topic I hadn’t previously spent much time considering, but Aaron provides ample food for thought (pun fully intended).
If you’d like to keep the Conversation going with Aaron, I recommend connecting with him on LinkedIn where he frequently posts thought-provoking items.
Reminder: The deadline to enter to win an author-signed copy of last episode’s guest, Danny Funt’s book, Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling, is Sunday, September 13, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Email your interest to hilldouglast@gmail.com.
As the college football season begins we felt it apt to ask: Who’s this fella holding the hardware?
Tony Dorsett entered the college ranks just in time for freshmen eligibility. The NCAA began allowing freshmen to compete in 1972. Dorsett arrived on campus at the University of Pittsburgh in the Fall of 1973 and immediately rushed for 1,586 yards and 11 touchdowns, becoming the first freshman to earn All-America status since Army’s Doc Blanchard in 1944.
It was the first of four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and four straight All-American selections for the Beaver County, PA, native. During his senior season he eclipsed Ohio State Archie Griffin‘s all-time college rushing mark (5,217 yards) and finished his career with 6,082 yards, still good for fifth best all-time.
It all culminated his senior season when he rushed for 1,948 yards and 21 touchdowns, all while leading the Panthers to their first National Championship in 40 seasons when they beat the University of Georgia, 27-3, in the Sugar Bowl to complete a 12-0 season.
For his efforts, Dorsett was named the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award recipient in addition to winning the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Dorsett is still the only Panthers’ winner of the Heisman.
The Dallas Cowboys traded four draft picks to acquire the No. 2 pick in the 1977 NFL Draft from the Seattle Seahawks to select Dorsett. His $1.1 million contract made him the first million dollar Cowboy. The Cowboys went on to defeat the Denver Broncos, 27-10, in Super Bowl XII that season, making Dorsett the first player in football history to win a National Championship and Super Bowl in consecutive years.
Dorsett retired following the 1988 season with the second most rushing yards (12,306) in NFL history (Walter Payton with 12,739). He’s a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The University of Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett poses with his 1976 Heisman Trophy. Dorsett is still the only Pitt Panther to win the award. (Photo from the Associated Press)
Some highlights from Dorsett’s final regular-season game as a Panther against rival Penn State.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
As the college football season begins we felt it apt to ask: Who’s this fella holding the hardware?
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Few topics related to the world of sports have captured my imagination quite the same way as sports gambling has.
A couple years ago, author Michael Lewis devoted the entire season on his podcast, Against the Rules, to sports fandom and gambling. (Listen to that season’s trailer here.) I was fascinated.
I read McKay Coppins‘ amazing piece in The Atlantic (“Sucker: My year as a degenerate gambler”) chronicling his NFL season as a sports gambler earlier this year, ironically, while on my way to Las Vegas for some March Madness fun. It was riveting.
I picked up a copy from my local library and began reading and became increasingly infuriated by the words on the pages. Not Danny and his syntax, mind you, but how sports gambling’s power players were working quietly behind the scenes (with North American professional sports leagues) while the Supreme Court was deciding Murphy vs. NCAA in 2018.
The Endgame: Be ready to capitalize on a multi-billion dollar opportunity should the ruling be in their favor.
In short, the online sports gambling industry bet big on the SCOTUS outcome and won. Today, the U.S. is just beginning to realize what it may have lost. (Read this gut-wrenching piece from ESPN about a sports gambling on college campuses.)
This week I’m delighted to discuss all of it with Danny Funt. Sure, we chat about his early years as a sports fan in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Still, the crux of our Conversation is about Everybody Loses, what the consequences have been, and what the future holds for a nation that doesn’t seem terribly willing to confront a very real problem that is infiltrating all portions of its populus.
And – great news! – thanks to Danny’s generosity, we have an author-signed copy of Everybody Loses to give away. To enter, all you need to do is email me at hilldouglast@gmail.com by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, September 13.
We had a bit of fun with some Hall of Fame Smiths in this week’s #FanTeaser. The clue inquiring if any of these fellas made it to Washington was a nod to the 1939 Frank Capra-directed film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”Jimmy Stewart starred as Jefferson Smith, a gubernatorial appointee to the U.S. Senate.
Here, in alphabetical order, are the Smith athletes whose images were used this week.
New York Islander goalie Billy Smith played 17 seasons and 675 games for the Isles. He amassed over 300 career victories in net and four straight Stanley Cup Championships. He was a 1993 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee. (New York Islanders photo)
Longtime Buffalo Bill Bruce Smith still owns the NFL career record with 200 sacks over his 19 seasons. He was twice named the Associated Press’ Defensive Player of the Year and an integral part of the Bills’ four consecutive Super Bowl appearances during the early 1990s. He was a 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. (Buffalo Bills photo)
The man has an arena named after him in Chapel Hill, NC. Yeah, Dean Smith was a fair college basketball coach, retiring with a then-record 879 career victories. He was a 1983 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. (Richard Carson/Associated Press Photo)
Horton Smith carries the distinction of being the first winner of The Masters, which was known as the Augusta National Invitational when he won it in 1934. He won it again two years later and totaled 29 other PGA Tour victories. He’s a 1990 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee. (Photo from Getty Images)
Known as “The Wizard,” Ozzie Smith made a career out of making spectacular defensive plays at shortstop. He won Gold Gloves in 13 of his 19 MLB seasons and was a 2002 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. (Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery Photo)
Most tennis fans these days are probably only familiar with Stan Smith thanks to his eponymous shoes. He was, in fact, an accomplished tennis player as well, winning a singles title at both Wimbledon (1972) and the U.S. Open (1972), but was even more accomplished as a doubles player, winning five additional Grand Slam titles. He was a 1987 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee. (Ed Lacey/Popperoto via Getty Images photo)
For more information (and plenty of links) about the various sports’ halls of fame, check out our Halls of Fame Directory here.
To review, the Fan Teaser was created by former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning, with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Did any of these fellas actually, you know, go to Washington? Or did they just wind up in other hallowed halls? If so, which ones?
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
I’ve received a few inquiries from potential guests about joining me on an episode of Conversations with Sports Fans.
Today’s guest, Philip Hover-Smoot, was one such individual.
Actually, it was Philip’s communications team checking to see if I’d be open to having the Founder and CEO of the Atlas Cup join Conversations.
The Atlas Cup, I learned, plans to be the first orbital racing league. Yes, you read that correctly: space racing.
The race vessels (think satellite or similar) will be unmanned with a cadre of racing teams controlling the dials and levers from the Earth. It’s sort of like FIRST Robotics meets America’s Cup meets NASA.
The goal, I read, was for competition to be up (and up and up;-) and running by the second half of 2028.
As I read that initial email, my first thought was that someone was surely yanking my chain.
But then, as I began doing more research on the Atlas Cup and Philip, they both seemed legitimate.
I told the communications team “yes,” and what you’re about to listen to is the resulting Conversation. And – good news! – you don’t really need a rocket scientist degree to understand all of what’s being discussed.
The exterior of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as seen from our room in the Hampton Inn.
Since it seemed a waste to fly to the northeast for one night and not try to sneak in two events, my traveling partner, Fran, and I made the hour trek north from Storrs, CT, to Springfield, MA, for the night with plans to tour the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame early the next day before flying back to Detroit in the evening.
But first … football!
Before the 2025 NCAA Football Season, the last time the Indiana Hoosiers played a meaningful college football game after New Year’s Eve was against the USC Trojans at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1968 (when I was six months old!).
So, yeah, I was gonna figure out a way to watch Indiana University – yes, that Indiana University – play for the stinkin’ National Championship.
After securing our room in the Hampton Inn directly across I-91 from the Hall, we made a beeline for the Rumbleseat Bar & Grill in Chicopee, which promised us sustenance, cooling beverages, and televisions to watch the game.
Check, check, and check!
The pizza was delicious, as was the local cider I selected, and there were plenty of televisions to choose from, though we had to deal with Detroit Pistons-Boston Celtics for screen time.
We lasted at the Rumbleseat until close to halftime when we made our way back to the hotel for the second half.
Clockwise from upper top, this mural of basketball legends (and period baskets) greets visitors to the Court of Dreams; Hollywood’s Penny Marshall was one of the first fans honored in the SuperFan Gallery; a look to the top of the sphere; Marshall’s ring; my friend Fran showing off his form from the elbow; the namesake for the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery.
This may be unfair, but as this is the final of the four major North American sports halls of fame that I’ve visited, I couldn’t help but compare basketball to baseball, football, and hockey.
To be sure, all the halls have a tremendous number of artifacts and memorabilia on display, but it really seemed like basketball had more than the others. You couldn’t swing an elbow (appropriately, of course;-) without spotting something behind glass that was intriguing and warranted your attention. It may be recency bias, but the number of images on my phone tell adifferent story.
That said, this post will lean heavily into images, but before I get to them, two more things I really appreciated about Naismith:
First, there are occasional SuperFan inductees who are honored in the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery. This year’s honoree was Matt Asen who supports the Indiana Pacers as “The Pacer Guy.” They get their own ring and everything which, as someone who curates a website called The Sports Fan Project, is pretty cool.
Second, the Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams is wonderful. It’s a full basketball court under the giant sphere seen in the exterior photo at the top and allows visitors to shoot, play some 1-on-1, or, if the mood struck and space was available, get a run in with nine of your friends. None of the other halls of fame have anything quite like it.
Some of my Favorite Finds
Clockwise from upper left, Julius Erving and Brittney Griner jerseys and shoes; a cap tip to my Indiana roots, this jacket commeorates the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons won three straight World Professional Basketball Tournaments (1944-46); Pete Maravich’s LSU jersey; a piece of wood flooring from the original Springfield YMCA basketball floor (circa 1890s); Diana Taurasi’s UConn jersey; the list of Hall of Fame inductees by year; I get the concept, but this Jerry Lucas jersey seems, um, uncomfortable; jerseys from Bill Walton and Wilt Chamberlain, balls from Walt Bellamy, John Stockton, and Robert Parrish, and Shaquille O’Neal sneakers; a lifesize cutout of Mugsy Bogues; Fran and I joined the “Inside the NBA” team on a fishing charter; Nolan Richardson gear from his days coaching the Arkansas Razorbacks; Kobe Bryant celebrates a championship; and, as far as I know, the only player from my alma mater (Eastern Michigan University) enshrined in the Naismith Hall.
Bright Lights, Big City
I tried to earn my keep on the set of “Inside the NBA” with Kenny, Shaq, Charles, and Ernie.
Speaking of Lights
Our capper to the overnight trip to the northeast featured a breathtaking glimpes at the aurora borealis (aka Northern Lights) outside right side of the Jet Blue flight. Many thanks to the crew for pointing it out and for fellow passengers for letting some of us get to a window to snap a photo.
We never thought we’d be channelling our inner-Karl Marx here at the #FanTeaser, but when considering this week’s subject, baseball player Mo’ne Davis, Marx’s philsophy that “we make our own history” comes to mind.
Davis made history 12 years ago when she was became the first girl pitcher in the history of the Little League Baseball World Series to throw a complete-game shutout, when she spun a 2-hitter for her Mid-Atlantic Region squad against the Southeast during a 4-0 victory. Among her eight strikeout victims that day was future Major Leaguer, Robert Hassell III. (Hassell later logged one of his team’s two hits against Davis.)
The Mid-Atlantic Region representative at the 2014 Little League Baseball World Series hailed from Philadelphia. One of its pitchers that year was Mo’ne Davis, then the first girl on a U.S. roster since 2004. (Photo by Gene J. Puskar/The Associated Press)
Then, earlier this summer, Davis again made history. Leading off and playing centerfield for the Los Angeles Queens of the newly formed Women’s Pro Baseball League, Davis she scored the first run in league history following a 2-run single by Maggie Foxx.
This year’s Little League Baseball World Series began on Wednesday and concludes on Sunday, August 30
Davis’ 2-hit, eight strikeout shutout of the Southeast Region’s Nashville team was the first LLBWS shutout by a girl.
Highlights of Mo’ne Davis scoring the first run in WPBL history via the Women’s Sports Now.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
