The Sports Fan Project

Fan Teaser: Week 192 Solution

June 28, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill1 Comment

We went multiple choice for you this week in recognition of the recently completed NBA Draft. Your mission, should you accept it, was to pair the following NBA Draftees with their Draft Night Ensemble.

LeBron James
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jalen Rose
Bol Bol

Here’s who wore what:

^{Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the 11th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Miles Bridges and draft capital. SGA, as he’s known, wore this floral suit by Los Angeles designer Jhoanna Alba.}

^{Bol Bol, the son of the late Manute Bol, was the 44th overall selection of the Miami Heat during the 2019 NBA Draft but was later traded to Denver Nuggets for future draft capital and cash considerations. Here he’s wearing a suit from hip-hop artist Young Thug‘s brand, Spider.}

^{LeBron James was the first-overall selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. Just 18-years-old on Draft Night, he chose all-white, slightly oversized fit that has been credited to Elevee Lifestyle stylist, Sami Jenks.}

^{Jalen Rose was the 13th selection by the Denver Nuggets in the 1995 NBA Draft. Rose’s look was created by fellow Detroiter Ed Lews who owned Custom Clothing by Ed Lewis. The red was Rose’s nod to the Los Angeles Clippers whom he believed were going to draft him. Alas, the best-laid plans.}

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.

The Fan Teaser – Week 192

June 26, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill1 Comment

In recognition of the annual NBA Draft which occurred earlier this week, we’re having a little fun at the #FanTeaser. While the draftees talent on the basketball court is undeniable, sometimes the choice of attire requires some plausible deniability:-)

With that, below are four Draft Night Ensembles from the archives. Let’s see if you can sleuth out who wore each. To make your job that much easier, we’re giving you the names of the four players. All you have to do match them to the correct cropped image below.

Your choices are as follows:

LeBron James
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jalen Rose
Bol Bol

Conversations with Sports Fans – Mark Griffiths

June 25, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Mark Griffiths in the broadcast booth at AFC Wrexham.}**

I readily admit to my European soccer naivete.

The Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” might have been the gateway to getting me curious about the sport in the United Kingdom, but it was FX’s “Welcome to Wrexham” that provided a compelling real-life story about a moribund northern Wales club – Wrexham AFC – that benefits greatly from the North American star power of its actor/club owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds. It was “Welcome” that, well, welcomed me into the greater world of professional soccer in the UK.

Today marks the end of Season 5 for “Welcome” and one consistent voice throughout the series’ history has been the Red Dragons’ broadcaster, Mark Griffiths.

In Mark I found a kindred spirit of sorts. A school teacher by day, the soccer match broadcasting was a volunteer side gig for him. The feature-ette “Welcome” did on Mark during Season 3 caught my eye.

^{Mark Griffiths received the Hollywood treatment by “Welcome to Wrexham” during Season 3.}

I filed this away and resolved to make an effort to have Mark join me on an episode of Conversations.

That finally happenened this week.

And, I must say, I don’t believe I was too far off on the whole kindred spirit perception. As you’re about to discover, he and I embarked on a wide-ranging discussion about sports, history, Wales, broadcasting, viral moments, crazy cats, World Cup, and much – much – more.

When the Conversation finally drew to a close, I dare say we were both shocked to see we’d been talking for close to 90 minutes. To us, at least, it felt like 15.

I hope you find Mark to be as engaging as I did. Now I need to figure out how to get to Wrexham and have our next discussion in person:-)

^{My Conversation with Mark Griffiths.}

Fan Teaser: Week 191 Solution

June 21, 2026June 14, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

In what is widely considered one of the best – if not the best! – Men’s College World Series finale in its 78-year history, Louisiana State’s Warren Morris belted a MCWS-winning 2-out, 2-run walkoff homer off Miami (FL) closer, Robbie Morrison, to give the Tigers’ a 9-8 victory back in 1996.

Morris, who went on to play parts of five MLB seasons for four franchises, missed considerable time that season due to a wrist injury. Believe it or not, this was his only home run of the season!

^{LSU’s Warren Morris enters full celebration mode rounding first base in Omaha after his walkoff home run won his Tigers’ the 1996 Men’s College World Series. (Associated Press Photo by Rodney White)}

Other recognizable names on the field that June 8, 1996 afternoon in Omaha, included Miami’s Pat Burrell and Joey Cora. For LSU, beyond Morris, future MLB players included Brett Laxton and Ed Yarnall. Also on that LSU team was future College Baseball Hall of Famer and LSU Athletics Hall of Famer, Eddy Furniss. Furniss is also the parent of Ole Miss senior baseball player Will Furniss whose Rebels advanced to Omaha themselves this season.

^{Video of Warren Morris’ 1996 Men’s College World Series-winning walkoff home against Miami in Omaha.}

Conversations with Sports Fans – Ron Teasley Jr. (Father’s Day Special)

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

^{From left, former Detroit Tiger Ike Blessitt, Ron Teasley Sr., and Ron Teasley Jr. talk baseball following the rededication of historic Hamtramck Stadium (home to the Negro League’s Detroit Stars) in 2022. (Photo by Robin Buckson/Detroit News)}

I’m joined in this episode by Ron Teasley Jr.

If that name sounds familiar, well, it should. His father, Ron Sr. appeared on Conversations in 2023 (S:2, E:52). At the time, the elder Teasley was 97-years-old (still our most-seasoned guest on Conversations!) and was one of only a handful of known surviving players from the Negro Major Leagues.

Ron Sr. died on February 3 this year as one of only two remaining Negro Leaguers. Today, 101-year-old Bill Greason is the lone survivor.

The junior Teasley joins me in this episode to discuss not only his own life as an athlete (he was a college baseball and basketball player) and his life as a fan (thanks primarily to his father who coached and worked at the Kronk Recreation Center), but also – and most importantly – the legacy his father and mother (Marie Teasley) leave in the Detroit community.

You’re able to learn more about the Ron and Marie Teasley Foundation at this link.

^{My Conversation with Ron Teasley Jr.}

The Fan Teaser – Week 191

June 19, 2026June 14, 2026DouglasTHill4 Comments

Conversations with Sports Fans – Scott Crawford

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

Some 20 years ago, my father, son, and I took a day trip to St. Marys, Ontario, Canada, to visit the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

At the time, the entirety of the facility was housed in a, well, house. It was during an era of fundraising and expansion which is now – I’ve been told by this week’s guest – complete.

Scott Crawford is the current Canadian Baseball Hall’s Director of Operations and has been working there for more than 20 years.

My discussion with Scott is wide-ranging and we discuss everything from his love of sports as a child, falling hard for the expansion Toronto Blue Jays when they entered MLB back in 1977, and the history of the Hall of Fame itself (it dates back to 1982.

Scott’s also kind enough to provide us some background on the Hall’s Class of 2026 that will be inducted this Saturday in St. Marys. The most recognizable name from the class of six is, undoubtedly, Devon White who made one of the greatest catches in Blue Jays’ history when he robbed Atlanta Braves’ slugger David Justice of extra bases during Game 3 the 1992 World Series. Check out the video here.

I also put Scott on the spot near the end of our time together when I ask him to share his favorite artifacts housed at the Museum.

^{My Conversation with Scott Crawford.}

Inside Baseball – June Edition

June 17, 2026June 17, 2026DouglasTHill

Fan Teaser: Week 190 Solution

June 14, 2026June 11, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

This week the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off with a pair of Group A matches on Thursday in Mexico. Over the next 39 days another 102 matches will be contested across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, as the three nations serve as a tri-hosts of the event.

The last time a nation in North America hosted FIFA’s quadrennial futbol-a-palooza, it was 1994 and the USA played solo host.

The final was contested in the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA, before nearly 95,000 fans who turned out on July 17, 1994, to watch Brazil and Italy do battle.

It was mostly a defensive struggle as the teams’ played to a scoreless tie through 90 minutes of regulation, added injury time, and 30 minutes of extra time.

That set the stage for Penalty Kicks to decide the game’s world championship and it came down to the fifth and final Italian kick, after Brazil had three of its first four and Italy had only scored twice in four chances.

Roberto Baggio and Claudio Taffarel following Baggio's missed PK to coclude the 1994 FIFA World Cup — ^{The immediate aftermath of Italian Roberto Baggio’s missed penalty kick at the conclusion of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Pasadena, CA’s, famed Rose Bowl Stadium. Brazilian goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel rejoices at his country’s victory, pointing his gloved fingers skyward. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Allsport)}

Reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, Roberto Baggio, a 27-year-old Italian midfielder who played professionally for Juventus, had the fate of Italy on his foot against Brazilian goalkeeper, Claudio Taffarel, who – ironically – played professionally for Italian club Reggiana.

Baggio’s right-footed boot sailed high over the crossbar and sent the Brazilian team and its faithful into a frenzy as it secured its fourth World Cup. The nation added a fifth eight years later during the Korea/Japan-hosted 2002 World Cup.