For all the personalities that come and go at ESPN, Linda Cohn has been a trusted, well-respected presence for nearly 25 years. Nobody has anchored more SportsCenter shows than her. Her 5,000th time hosting the network’s premiere program came on Feb. 21, 2016 – marking a significant accomplishment for a pioneer in this industry. Her love of sports can’t go unnoticed, especially her devotion to the New York Rangers. Photo courtesy of lindacohn.net

Profiles in Sports

Episode #76 (5/4/17): Linda Cohn

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, their Game 7 win in last year’s NBA Finals over the Golden State Warriors not only capped a tremendous comeback from being down three-games-to-one, it also culminated a personal triumph for LeBron James –- bringing the city of Cleveland a long-awaited championship after leaving them in heartbreaking fashion just six years prior. NBA writers Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin chronicled this incredible journey back to local hero status in a new book called Return of the King. Photo courtesy of Grand Central Publishing Audio courtesy of ABC Sports

Episode #75 (4/27/17): Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin

From California to Philadelphia to St. Louis to Kansas City, Dick Vermeil ran the football marathon and came out a winner – most especially so in the form of two Super Bowl appearances and a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. After three decades in coaching – to go along with 14 years in the broadcast booth – Vermeil’s post-retirement life has resulted in a shift in priorities. For so long, his passions were blocking and tackling. Now, they center on cabernet and chardonnay. Photo courtesy of Yardbarker Audio courtesy of CBS Sports and ABC Sports

Episode #74 (4/17/17): Dick Vermeil

What makes the NCAA Basketball Tournament so compelling each year are the buzzer beaters and the Cinderellas. Thirty years ago, the 1987 championship game concluded with a late basket from a player who enjoyed his own Cinderella story. Keith Smart scored 17 second-half points against Syracuse – the last two giving the Indiana Hoosiers a 74-73 victory and a fourth national title. Less than two years before his shining moment, the Baton Rouge, LA native was playing for Garden City Community College in Kansas having very little high school basketball experience. Photo courtesy of Bill Haber/AP Audio courtesy of CBS Sports

Episode #73 (3/22/17): Keith Smart

During the first half of the 1970s, the Oakland A’s were the most colorful team in baseball – with bright double-knit uniforms, long hair and outlandish personalities. They were also the best team – winning five consecutive division titles and three straight World Series from 1972-74. Author Jason Turbow gives us some great background on a forgotten dynasty with his new book: “Dynasitc, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finley’s Swinging A’s”. Photo courtesy of SI.com Audio courtesy of NBC Sports

Episode #72 (3/14/17): Jason Turbow

Fearless on the field and feared by his opponents, Easley sported a hard-hitting style en route to claiming five trips to the Pro Bowl, four first-team All-Pro selections, the 1981 Defensive Rookie of the Year and the 1984 Defensive Player of the Year. Yet one of the best safeties of the 1980s had gotten little recognition in regards to the Hall of Fame. That changed on February 4. Nearly three decades after his career was curtailed by illness and a mere six months following a triple bypass, Easley got the notice that few football players are privileged to receive. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Episode #71 (3/2/17): Kenny Easley

It took ten years and plenty of voters to be convinced otherwise, but Tim Raines made it to the Hall of Fame on his last try on the writer’s ballot. The premiere National League lead-off hitter of the 1980s was a seven-time All-Star with the Montreal Expos, a batting champion in 1986, and credited with 808 stolen bases – the fourth-most in major league history. Many factors were responsible for the delayed induction. Ford C. Frick winner Dave Van Horne, who was behind the mic for Raines' entire tenure in Montreal, lends his perspective on the "Rock" had on the Expos franchise. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Audio courtesy of MLB.com

Episode #70 (2/20/17): Dave Van Horne

Going from unknown Red Sox prospect to a well-known face of the Houston Astros franchise, Jeff Bagwell belted 449 home runs over 15 big league seasons and was the unanimous choice for the 1994 National League Most Valuable Player. His selection as a Hall of Famer, however, was not as resounding. In fact, it took seven tries on the writer’s ballot before the first baseman was Cooperstown-bound. Like Ivan Rodriguez, Bagwell’s candidacy was met with whispers of steroids – albeit no concrete evidence. But his inclusion in the Hall, according to former Astros play-by-play announcer Bill Brown, was a long time coming. Photo courtesy of Baseball Hot Corner Audio courtesy of MLB.com

Episode #69 (2/14/17): Bill Brown

On January 18, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced the election of three players to the National Pastime’s most exclusive and prestigious club. With that, we’ve entrusted the help of longtime broadcasters – each of whom got to respectively witness the primes of these inductees. Leading off is our discussion is with Texas Rangers voice Eric Nadel and his fond memories of Ivan Rodriguez – who posted more than 2,800 hits and a lifetime batting average of .296 over 21 seasons, but is most remembered as being one of the greatest defensive catchers ever. Photo courtesy of The Sporting News Audio courtesy of MLB.com

Episode #68 (2/9/17): Eric Nadel

The longest and most extensive NFL family tree belongs to Matthews clan – which dates back nearly 70 years. Prominent in this lineage is Bruce Matthews, the versatile and durable Hall of Fame offensive lineman who played 19 seasons with the Tennessee Titans franchise and is the author of a new book, "Inside the NFL’s First Family: My Life of Football, Faith and Fatherhood." A perfect addendum to the story came with this most recent NFC Championship, where son Jake – a left tackle for the Atlanta Falcons – advanced to the super bowl as his team defeated the Green Bay Packers, starring nephew Clay – the six-time Pro-Bowl linebacker. Photo and audio courtesy of NFL.com

Episode #67 (1/30/17): Bruce Matthews

Since 1977, the unmistakable baritone voice of Merrill Reese has been on the call for the memorable moments of the Philadelphia Eagles – from the original 'Miracle at the Meadowlands', to the 2010 version featuring DeSean Jackson, as well as the two NFC Championships in between. The NFL’s longest-tenured play-by-play man celebrated his 40th season behind the mic in 2016. And to add to that celebration, he was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame last November. Photo and audio courtesy of Sportsradio 94WIP

Episode #66 (1/13/17): Merrill Reese

By the time Lenny Moore entered the NFL in 1956, pass-catching running backs were few and far between. But by the time he finished his 12-year career, he had broken the mold. Lenny totaled more than 12,000 all-purpose yards for the Baltimore Colts and remains the only player in the history of the game with at least 40 rushing touchdowns and 40 receiving touchdowns while enduring the racial tensions of that era. Photo courtesy of Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame Audio courtesy of YouTube

Episode #65 (12/20/16): Lenny Moore

The top shutdown cornerbacks in recent NFL history include Richard Sherman, Josh Norman, Derrelle Revis and, going further back, Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders. But during the late 1970s and 1980s, that distinction was bestowed upon Mike Haynes, who earned nine trips to the Pro Bowl, would be named to the NFL’s 75th anniversary all-time team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Since his 14-year playing career ended, Mike has been a strong advocate of prostate cancer awareness – having been diagnosed and surviving the disease himself. Photo courtesy of NFL.com Audio courtesy of CBS Sports

Episode #64 (12/8/16): Mike Haynes

There were plenty of highs and lows in the life of Ken Stabler, and Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman has chronicled it all in his new book entitled "Snake." Stabler spent most of his NFL career quarterbacking the Oakland Raiders and was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, just over a year after succumbing to cancer at age 69. Noted more for his moments than his statistics, he was one of the NFL’s greatest pressure performers in addition to being one of its most colorful characters. Photo courtesy of HarperCollins Audio courtesy of NFL Films

Episode #63 (11/23/16): Mike Freeman

The accomplished author of many acclaimed basketball books has delved into the story of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant with his new book "Showboat." Our discussion ranges from Kobe’s youth in Italy following his father’s professional basketball career, how he evolved during his NBA playing days, the relationships with Phil Jackson and Tex Winter, as well as the spectacular 60-point finale this past April. Photo courtesy of Little, Brown and Company Audio courtesy of NBA.com

Episode #62 (11/11/16): Roland Lazenby

Great sporting memories are recalled here - featuring in-depth interviews with notable players, writers, broadcasters and personalities.The 'Profiles in Sports' podcast reflects on the games and events of years past and the individuals that helped create them.

hubhopper

Profiles in Sports

hubhopper