Michael Clair’s college dream was to do the Hollywood screenwriting thing. He sort of fell into some baseball writing, fell in love with it, and before he knew it had a Hollywood-esque story fall into his lap. While covering the European World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament in 2022, he discovered the Czech Republic’s National Baseball Team, comprised of part-time players with full-time day jobs. Not only did the Czech’s qualify for the 2023 WBC, it won a Pool Play which ensured a return trip in 2026. Michael chronicles it all in his debut book, We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball, and many of the highlights to us in this episdoe of Conversations. (Depending upon when you’re reading there, there might still be time to enter to win an author-signed copy of Michael’s book. All you need to do to enter is email Conversations’ host, Doug Hill, at ⁠⁠hilldouglast@gmail.com⁠⁠ by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, May 22, 2026, and you’re in the drawing. If you’re a member of the ⁠⁠$80 for 80 Circle of Champions⁠⁠ and enter, your entries will be tripled!

To listent to Michael’s Conversation please follow this link.