Student Athletes

Episode 169: DEXTER BUSSEY in the Battle of His LIFE!

Dexter Bussey

Typical Dexter Bussey: No complaints

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • One of the most popular Lions in memory, DEXTER BUSSEY, joins the boys on his career, unusual POST-career — AND his health! 
  • You’ll hear the voice of legendary sportscaster Bob Reynolds on Dex. WHAT? Never heard of BOB REYNOLDS?! It’s NOT all pretty. 
  • Not only did the Tigers actually win a GAME against Cleveland, they won the weekend series!  
  • Now what? Does Al Avila go for broke or does he start trading guys for more “prospects” - SUSPECTS - at the deadline? 
  • The PC Posse continues its takeover of sports, UNLESS, as Bob points out, you’re a black NBA player making a racist comment. 
  • And to think of Mike Milbury being “canceled” for a totally innocuous statement — whether YOU like him as a commentator or not. 
  • Resident golf mavens Eli and Denny go NUTS over what Dustin Johnson did last weekend! Does Koepka eat humble pie? 
  • Did they just hold one of the greatest events of the sports world in veritable secrecy?! Almost seems that way! 
  • Denny may not like it, but one NFL team now says there WILL be fans at ITS home games this year. 
  • Those stories, Eli with “This Day in Sports,” Bob with YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 168: Tom Izzo: Coach of the PISTONS?!

Frank Izzo

I think he regrets not taking that job.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • Eli’s on vacation so veteran sportscaster FRED HEUMANN joins us with some big opinions and stories!
  • Casey Mize makes his LONG-awaited MLB debut! MOST of us thought he did well. NOT Denny!
  • Al Avila says on a Friday that Mize and the other kids are NOT ready. By MONDAY they ARE?! Bob thinks he knows why.
  • Thom Brennaman commits the ultimate TV/radio sin: not so much WHAT he said, it’s the cardinal rule he FORGOT!
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a grand slam on a 3-0 count with his team up by SEVEN in the 8th inning — and the feces hits the fan!
  • The NFL is now considering a postseason “bubble” which has worked for the NBA and NHL.
  • Most of COLLEGE football is not going to play at all. Players, parents and one prominent medical expert are VERY unhappy.
  • A potentially GREAT Michigan O-lineman has already seen enough. HE’S heading to the pros!
  • One of the legal world’s greatest truisms: how much “justice” can you afford? In Robert Kraft’s case, a LOT!
  • Those stories, “This Day in Sports” — just for Denny McLain, YOUR mailbag and much more right here.

Episode 149: The GREAT Rod Carew

Rod Carew at bat

No easy out.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • Baseball Hall of Famer ROD CAREW joins the boys to talk about his amazing career, amazing new HEART & more!
  • So Jim Nantz began Saturday’s PGA telecast with a tribute to George Floyd? Bob asks where the Tour’s BEEN all these years!
  • Is Rob Manfred going to save MLB’s season by FORCING the players and owners to (finally) get started?
  • The NBA has a plan to come back, but Kyrie Irving says it SHOULDN’T until “Black Lives Matter” is accomplished!
  • No word from the NHL on its restart as one star coach asks how an NFL comeback’s possible with “social distancing.”
  • What if Gibby’s World Series homers had been played in EMPTY STADIUMS?! Eli on board with Bob: there MUST be fans!
  • ESPN’s doc on the steroid-laden 1998 home-run race premieres. Why are McGuire & Bonds welcome in MLB but not Sosa?
  • Mr. Z always has terrific stories about Allen Iverson who just turned 45. You won’t believe what happens when he turns 55!
  • What happened 55 YEARS ago? Denny: ROD CAREW broke in? Uh, NO, Denny! He finally got the answer.
  • Those stories, YOUR Mailbag segment and much more right here!

Episode 142: BROOKIE’S Got a LOT to Say!

Tom Brookens

One of the great guys in baseball.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • Small-town boy goes to Chicago — and steps right into Disco Demolition Night! Welcome to MLB, guest TOM BROOKENS! 
  • Eli jumps all over ESPN for televising Korean baseball and — huh? A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT?!
  • “Now tell me to what room I go to get my reputation back!” The lawsuit against MSU’s Mark Dantonio & others DISMISSED!
  • There’s news out this week on college football recruiting. Michigan fans won’t like it either.  
  • Mike Trout’s rookie card just sold for $900,000! Denny says baseball cards are BACK — they MUST be!   
  • Eli and Denny tell stories of Mantle and Pepitone and why it’s JOE’S pic hanging in The Denny Den, NOT Mickey’s.
  • IF the NFL plays this season, one equipment manufacturer thinks it has a great idea for player safety.
  • Meanwhile, an NFL player is suing over sexual assault. What could a WOMAN have DONE to the macho man?
  • Sad news for we of the Baby Boom Generation? Eli: YES! Bob: NO! EDDIE HASKELL was a two-faced jerk!
  • •Those stories, Eli and Denny KILL the weekend Tiger/Phil foursome, YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 129: Had Enough of the FL’s? Marc Spindler Has!

Marc Spindler in Detroit Lions uniform

They lack a lot of things.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page!

  • What a comedian! What an entertainer! And ya say this guy MARC SPINDLER played a lotta FOOTBALL too?
  • Eli and Bob vow to stop discussing their differing positions on COVID-19. ELI quickly breaks it! Bob won’t.
  • When will sports start again? Bob THINKS he has an idea based upon a feature in the Detroit News.
  • He claims you’ll likely never see Tom Brady play for Tampa — or anybody else — ever again!
  • Tom Dempsey has died of COVID. What older Lions fan will EVER forget where he/she was for “The Field Goal?!” 
  • E-sports continue to thrive in the sports-less world and tempers are hot! NASCAR drivers “rage-quitting” over video games?
  • Seen the new HBO doc on cheating in college basketball? ELI’s all over it. Bob: BFD.
  • Here comes the P.C. Posse ridin’ in over them yonder hills! Mike Leach now in trouble for sharing an UN-P.C. meme.
  • Earth to Denny! Come in! Earth to Denny! We somehow LOSE MLB’s last 30-game winner in the middle of the show!
  • What could be worse than THAT? Well, how about a show where YOUR mailbag is unceremoniously DUMPED?!
  • We’ll explain what happened (no tears from Eli!) and have MUCH more for you right here.


Episode 114: Jason “Rooftop” Thompson: My Life in Baseball

Jason Thompson batting

The old guys call me Rooftop, the younger kids have no idea who I am!

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page!

  • JASON THOMPSON joins the boys who ask why Sparky got rid of him, what it was like to be part of “Birdmania” and much more!
  • Mel Tucker is the new MSU football coach. You say Michigan media people were SOFT on this story? WE will NOT be!
  • Ah, those “student-athletes.” Two football players banished from Ohio State over rape allegations!
  • Is MLB going to update its playoff format to 14 teams — and pick your OWN opponent?! Denny has an alternative.
  • The Astros’ sign-stealing is still making folks angry — and Denny’s even angrier about Pete Rose asking back in. 
  • Are the FL’s really going to trade Matthew Stafford? How much could they get for him at this point?
  • Eli says the Pistons are worth a BILLION dollars more than Tom Gores paid for them! Bob explains why he REALLY wanted the team.
  • “Screaming” Tom Izzo MAY have righted his sinking ship with a big win at Illinois.
  • But don’t blame Northwestern for losing to Michigan’s basketball team. The Mildcats do things the right way.
  • Those stories, Denny McLain, golf hustler as part of YOUR mailbag segment plus MORE right here.

Episode 111: Winners and Losers From the SB? WE Start With Denny!

Fist holding dollar bills with 50 yard line on football field in background

Nice weekend Denny!
It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page!

  • WHAT?! Denny didn’t watch the Super Bowl?! Well, at least he LISTENED to it — so he joins our big wrap-up anyway.
  • And what SB wrap-up would be complete without discussing the commercials AND the PG-13 halftime show? 
  • The Pro Football HOF announced its five new members over the weekend. What about the guys who did NOT make it?
  • And here Bob was relieved because football was FINALLY over? Denny and Eli say, “guess again!”
  • Michigan State basketball goes down to an average team it should have beaten. Was ONE player responsible?
  • Michigan gets an important win WITH Zavier back. Why was he suspended? Don’t ask the feckless Detroit sports media.
  • So you’re unhappy playing for Juwan? Why not jump to Izzo instead — and be in the lineup the very next season?!
  • The Pathetic Pistons pissing off their own coach now — and let’s be real about Sunday’s win over Denver.
  • Ex-Tiger fan-favorite/great-guy Curtis Granderson calls it a career — probably two years too late.
  • And how would another ex-Tiger fan favorite have fared in the current era of baseball? Don’t make Denny laugh!
  • THAT story’s in YOUR Mailbag segment, PLUS criticism of our Kobe coverage and much more right here.

Episode 85: Mr. McLain, Do You GAMBLE on Baseball?!

I had a great night with that home run!

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page.

  • So, does Denny still have such little respect for “Mercenary Max” Scherzer NOW? 
  • The boys wrap up the World Series and pull no punches about the umpiring and managing we saw.
  • And to think that Denny picked the Nats to win it all! Rest assured, he’s NOT too shy to mention that — or his BETS!
  • The FL’s go to Oakland to face the Raiders with a ONE-GAME win streak! Exciting! But Bob sez fans know what usually comes next.
  • Michigan and Michigan State have byes this Saturday. Well, the Wolverines, ya know, TECHNICALLY …
  • Meanwhile, the broken record keeps skipping: still MORE trouble for MSU off the field.
  • Ypsilanti, Michigan high school hoops superstar Emoni Bates has landed on the COVER of S.I. — at age 15! Too much, too soon?
  • Eli strikes out on the meaning of “load management” in sports. Oh, you too? You likely won’t be happy to learn what it is.
  • Boo-Hoo! The Pistons are under .500 cuz they have injuries. So how have the Raptors flown out of the gate without Kawhi?
  • Plus Gary McCord surprised, unhappy by his firing at CBS, we hear from YOU in our weekly mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 71: EX-MICHIGAN STAR BRAYLON EDWARDS SLAMS M FOOTBALL - AGAIN

Close-up photo of Braylon Edwards wearing U of M cap.

Harbaugh’s been there for five years now…name someone that he’s brought in.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

  • Former Michigan and NFL star Braylon Edwards joins us to discuss his new book, his career, family AND to argue with Bob!
  • This after being suspended by the Big Ten Network last year for ripping U-M football’s current state.
  • When bad things happen to good people: the boys eulogize the late Fred McLeod.
  • Eli talks about a guy he knows well: Dennis Rodman, the subject of an ESPN “30 for 30” this week.
  • The Antonio Brown saga just might end, not with the Pats, but in a PRISON CELL, while OBJ continues to make a fool of himself!
  • Mark Dantonio on the cusp of overtaking Duffy as the winningest coach in MSU history. Bob BEGS for perspective!
  • A new law in Cali will allow college athletes to be paid by 2023. The NCAA is gonna fight! What does it all portend for college sports?
  • 7Plus another of our “Adventures With Denny,” YOU on our weekly mailbag segment and much more right here.

Episode 68: The DEATH of one your kids: may it NEVER happen to you!

Ken Daniels, Detroit Red Wings Play by Play Announcer

Life will never be the same. 

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

  • TV voice of the Red Wings Ken Daniels joins us with a surprising prediction about the Wings’ coming season!
  • He, Eli & Denny have one TRAGIC thing in common: each had a child die. They all open up about it.
  • It’s another no-hitter for JV who joins other Al Avila give-aways now tearing it up in MLB.
  • Well, at least they both WON! Our recap of last weekend’s Michigan and Michigan State games.
  • Among NFL roster cuts? Teez Tabor — still ANOTHER blown high draft pick by the FL’s!
  • Bob asks if LeBron were drunk or high — or BOTH in his embarrassing “Taco Tuesday” rant. 
  • Ripping poor Coco Gauff to shreds? That’s like ripping Santa Claus — yet Denny does it anyway!
  • We’ve got the weekly mailbag with YOUR comments & questions. Call us too at (760) 89-BALLS!
  • And two out of three college basketball coaches would just say NO to Trump. Those stories and more right here.