GAME CHANGERS with Steve Tressler

‘Mykraphone Mike Allison was born and raised in Lexington, Ky dreaming of being a pro athlete or even a sports agent. He wanted mainly to just stay around sports somehow. He did just that. For the last quarter of a century he has helped to bring smiles, laughs and memories to baseball fans from all over Kentucky as the primary crowd entertainer for the Independent (former affiliate) professional baseball team, the Lexington Legends.

Keith Elkins grew up in Bedford, Indiana listening to Jack Buck and Harry Caray calling the St. Louis Cardinals games on radio as a child. With this as his backdrop for inspiration, he went on to a 50-year career in broadcasting from high school sports to college sports, and then on to pro sports and beyond. His WUKY Sports Page podcasts has been his post retirement project, but only when not spending time with two sons and his two grandsons. Keith is a great broadcaster, a father, a grandfather and a true gentleman of the business.

Larry Glover is an award winning sportscaster and talk show host that was raised on a small farm in Hancock County, Kentucky. We talk about his roots and how he developed his work ethic growing up, as well as how honored and humbled he is to call his heroes growing up as a kid, his friends now that he’s an adult. This is Larry Glover as you’ve never heard him before.

Johnathon Davis is a former Kentucky basketball player that was known for his hustle & high IQ, on and off the court, which has aided him in his ultra successful business. He has two incredible children, now adults. One of which, his daughter Clark Davis, was crowned Miss Kentucky 2015. The other, his son Jackson Davis, was the 2014 Mr. Basketball runner-up in Kentucky. Johnathon describes his time as a Kentucky Wildcat and the challenges of managing over $1 billion in assets with the company he owns and why it’s still exciting for him to see people realize and reach their financial dreams through the company he founded, JT Davis Asset Management. He is also my best friend here in Kentucky.

Former NFL star QB Chad Pennington is an 11-year NFL veteran and Heisman Trophy candidate from Marshall University. His professional career saw him win division titles with two different teams and he was voted as the NFL‘s comeback player of the year two times during his career with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. Now the married father of 3 is hoping to be remembered as a servant leader of God, who credits all that he does good to his wife’s love and guidance, as they raise 3 boys together in Kentucky.

Stan Cliburn made his MLB debut as a California Angel when he was 23 years old and has never taken a baseball uniform off since. After playing for 30+ years he has now managed for over 30 years and is in a very elite group of managers with over 2000 all-time wins. Here is part of his story.

Hugh Davis is usually described as kind, considerate and humble. He’s also one of the best in his field to ever do it. His field? Keeping the athletic contest scorebook official & accurate. For over 50 years he has been the official scorer for literally thousands of athletes and hundreds of teams over a multitude of sports.

Gregg Zaun is a World Series Champion and a 15-year MLB veteran. He also was one of the top baseball commentators around before becoming a baseball manager. Get a closer look at one of the most competitive athletes in baseball.

Arthur Rhodes played over 20 years in MLB and was an All-Star in 2010 and a World Series Champion in 2011 with St. Louis. As a Texan, he grew up idolizing Nolan Ryan, and eventually played for him as well. He had the reputation as a fierce competitor who was not to be played with while on the mound.

Frank Minnifield went from the housing projects of Lexington, Kentucky to being the highest paid cornerback in the NFL in the 1980s and that continued on to success as a business owner after he left football. He has since used his elevated platform to raise millions of dollars for children’s charities.

#1 Derrick Ramsey guided the University of Kentucky football to a 10-1 record and #6 national ranking in 1977, he went on to the NFL where he played for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders where he won a Super Bowl ring before making his real mark in state government where he said he wanted to give back to all the Kentuckians who had supported him...and he made good on that promise. I call him 'Dad' - you'll call him a winner. Get his book out now on Amazon "THEY CALL ME MR. SECRETARY: THROUGH THE LENS OF A WINNER with John Huang.

William Warfield, the King of Stream, is the owner and founder of Prepspin. William had the drop on everyone when it came to carving out a niche for broadcasting high school sports to the masses done the right way. What started as a one-man operation for a few local events has gone national and now William and Prepspin, is called upon by multiple schools, universities and professional sports leagues all over the country to broadcast their events. His story is still under construction too.

Willie B. Ray aka Ray Fit went from the ghettos of Detroit to an Olympic team hopeful has spent the last 3 decades helping ordinary people develop into extraordinary athletes by following his expert nutrition advice & the strength training plans he designs. He is a former pro football player and one time Olympic hopeful, as well as the the author of the book; Cracking the Code To Fat Loss Success. He has been featured as a guest fitness columnist for numerous periodicals. His story will inspire you and his attitude will uplift you. www.rayfit.life

Justin Ferrarella is a cancer survivor that says baseball, quite literally, saved his life...and he's right. He was made the youngest GM of a professional sports team in the US at 24-years-old and returned the favor to the owners and fans with a championship. Now he's the president and GM of Lexington's professional baseball team and that comes with not only a huge sense of gratitude, but a huge amount of challenges, as well. But he says he's ready, so bring it on!

#3 Alan Stein brought professional baseball to Lexington, Kentucky and is a well respected thought leader, business owner, education and public service leader throughout Kentucky and the nation. He also happens to be a dear friend and mentor of mine for the last 25 years. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did. His favorite piece of advice he got from Warren Buffett was "You can't cut your budget to prosperity." He's also a baseball fanatic. Especially the Cincinnati Reds, but it is minor league baseball which he cherishes the most and you'll hear why.