Take A 20

The 2006 Tour de France began with the biggest doping scandal in the history of sports. And it only got worse from there. The first race without 7-time champion Lance Armstrong was supposed to be a shining moment for a new generation of riders. That included Lance's former teammate, Floyd Landis, who was on the verge of becoming the next American cycling hero. Until he wasn't. In this episode, where lots of bad things happen to lots of bad people, we are incredibly grateful that Mark and Josh remain our beacons of goodness and hope.

Believe it or not, the Celtics are not the only team who consistently underperforms in the post-season. The Oakland A's were similarly snakebit in the 2000's, often failing to capitalize on regular season success. In 2006, the A's finally won a playoff series -- but that long-awaited breakthrough was the beginning of the end of Moneyball's golden age. 

It’s officially clay court season, which is as close as Mark and Josh get to red bottom shoes. Unlike our plebeian podcasters, Roger Federer was always comfortable with luxury brands. In 2006, the man who personified elegance and grace elevated his game to the highest level, compiling one of the greatest seasons ever in men’s tennis. 

The NBA Playoffs are underway, the underdogs are barking, and Mark and Josh are not even thinking about pushing the panic button for the Knicks or Celtics (no, seriously, things are totally fine!). It was panic time for the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals, until everything changed in an instant. Dwyane Wade emerged as a superstar -- with some assists from a highly criticized officiating crew -- and the legacy of that series continues to cast a big shadow over the NBA, both good and bad. 

“Get your popcorn ready!” Those were the words of Terrell Owens when he joined  the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. Words that Mark and Josh live by every day. When T.O. spoke them into existence, it was both a warning and a promise. The most polarizing personality in sports joined the most polarizing franchise. Everything could go right, or it could fail in spectacular fashion. The only certainty was that it would be impossible to look away.

For the first time in 32 years, the Masters is taking place without Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods. Phil won the tournament in 2006, claiming his second Green Jacket, and setting the stage for a magical year. Everything was lining up perfectly for Phil, until it wasn't. Epic talent. Reckless risk-taking. That was Lefty in 2006. And in many ways, it remains the same today. The azaleas are in bloom, the birds are chirping, and Mark and Josh celebrate all that Phil achieved at Augusta -- while lamenting all that never was.  

Despite an 83-win regular season, the St. Louis shocked the baseball world by winning the World Series in 2006. They even received an authentic, full-sized trophy, even though they were the least successful team to ever claim baseball's top title. So, were the Cardinals lucky, good, or simply smarter than everyone else in the 2006 post-season? It was a little bit of everything. And it was a return to glory for a team and a manager whose legacies had been trending in the wrong direction.

Long before Mark Davidson petitioned the DMV for a "Le Magnifique" vanity license plate, someone else in Pittsburgh claimed that moniker as his own. Unfortunately for Mark, that individual was a lot bigger, wealthier, and more handsome. Mario Lemieux was one of the greatest hockey players of all-time -- and, yes, The Great One himself would agree -- but the stories behind that greatness are even more impressive. Lemieux hung up his skates for good in 2006, leaving behind a legacy that will never be matched -- on and off the ice.  

Clear eyes, full hearts, clean brackets, can't lose! Behold these magical hours of March Madness when every player is a champion and every fan is a genius. But dreams die fast in March -- except when they don't. In 2006, George Mason engineered the most improbable Final Four run in modern history. The under-sized and 11th-seeded Patriots took on the biggest names in college basketball, and by George, they kept on winning. 

A funny thing happened when America's pastime set its sights on global supremacy in 2006. It turns out the rest of the world is pretty good at baseball, too. That was the enduring lesson from the inaugural World Baseball Classic, a surprisingly compelling competition that featured a dominating performance from Japan, questionable strategies from Team USA, and a whole bunch of rules that were really hard to explain. In other words, not much has changed in 20 years. The WBC is quirky, unpredictable, and more fun than you want to admit. Kind of like Josh and Mark.  

"It's Kobe Freakin' Bryant!" Those four words said it all after Bryant scored 81 points vs. the Toronto Raptors on a January night in 2006. But Josh and Mark are contractually obligated to say more than four words every episode -- time to get new lawyers! -- so they dig a little deeper into that historic performance. What unleashed Kobe's superpowers that magical evening? Was it his grandmother in attendance, a carbo-loading meal of pepperoni pizza and grape soda, or the delicious knowledge that one day two trailblazing podcasters would memorialize his achievement?

Imagine a bizarro NBA All-Star world where the game is a nail-biter, the smallest guy wins the Dunk Contest, the biggest guy wins the Three-Point Contest, and superstar musicians clamor to be a part of it. Could that type of sorcery ever happen in our lifetime? Well, all of that DID happen over the course of 24 hours at NBA All-Star Weekend in 2006. In this week's episode, Josh and Mark marvel at the who's who -- or the "Hou's Hou" -- who gathered in Houston for that February spectacle, which featured lots of wins, and a whole lot of misses.

The Take A 20 crew loves awards season, even if they haven't won anything...yet. Speaking of cherished national treasures that never received the critical acclaim they deserve, this week's episode celebrates the 2006 film "Rocky Balboa." The Oscars are a few weeks away, but time stands still for Sylvester Stallone.

Josh Green and Mark Davidson are no strangers to flying tomatoes -- they are usually on the receiving end of those saucy projectiles. But in this episode, the Take A 20 hosts pay tribute to THE "Flying Tomato," Shaun White, the long-locked snowboarding superstar of the the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Big air, big hair, big flair! This pomodoro podcast has it all! 

It's Super Bowl week, and Take A 20 looks back at an extremely rare football phenomenon: the New England Patriots NOT advancing to the Big Game. Shocking, we know. But it actually happened in 2006, when the plucky Pittsburgh Steelers rode The Bus to a championship, beating the Seattle Seahawks in Jerome Bettis' hometown of Detroit. A fresh-faced Mark Davidson had recently relocated to Pittsburgh, and like Bettis, he earned his black and yellow Yinzer stripes on that day. It was a wild ride to the championship, and Josh Green pretends to be excited for Mark as they recount everything it took -- including wildly questionable officiating -- to win "one for the thumb."

It's as if we never left! Josh Green and Mark Davidson return from their extended hiatus to kickoff a brand new season of Take A 20. Throughout this season, we will focus on 2006, and this debut episode re-examines one of the greatest college football games of all-time: the 2006 BCS National Championship featuring #1 USC and #2 Texas. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the moderately entertaining content. We are so back, baby!

In 2003, ESPN had it all: the NBA returned to the network, the "embrace debate" era was booming, poker became a TV sensation, and they almost hired an exceptionally gifted sports anchor named Josh Green. Ultimately, ESPN chose NOT to hire Josh, and they have been cursed ever since. Luckily, someone who did work for ESPN in 2003, long-time anchor Scott Reiss, joins the podcast to describe what it felt like to be part of the most exclusive club in sports broadcasting.  

It's a special Rosh Hashanah episode of Take A 20! The boys return from their summer hiatus to ring in the new year with legendary broadcasting voice Gary Thorne. Gary was on the mic for the 2003 ALCS between the Red Sox and Yankees, and he relives the drama of that epic series, as well as other moments from his remarkable career.  Sit back, dip your apples in honey, and try to say nice things about Aaron Boone (although he definitely does not deserve it!).

John Gagliardi won more football games – 489 – than any college coach, ever. Gagliardi set the wins record in 2003, which was his 51st season as the head coach at St. John’s College of Minnesota. Gagliardi was famous for his list of “No’s," which included no hitting in practice, no playbook, no mandatory weight lifting and never allowing players to call him "Coach." He was simply John. And his keep-it-simple approach just might be the best thing that ever happened to football.  Former St. John’s quarterback Tom Linnemann joins the podcast to speak at length -- and in highly entertaining fashion -- about the remarkable life of Coach Gagliardi, or John.

Take A 20 is taking the "L" to the North Side of Chicago. And speaking of "L’s," we are embracing the pain to discuss the Chicago Cubs and everything that went wrong on October 14, 2003. To this day, one word comes to mind when you mention the 2003 Cubs. That word is “Bartman," the superfan who became a super villain. In this episode, we speak with a different Cubs superfan, Jeff Shook, Professor of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, who was in the stands that fateful evening when the Cubs were on the cusp of advancing to the World Series. Until it all shattered, like a Sammy Sosa corked bat.  

Take A 20 makes its triumphant return for Season 4! We are deep in our bag(gy suits) to break down the 2003 NBA Draft, which featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and countless fashion violations. Ben Osborne, former editor-in-chief of SLAM and Bleacher Report, joins the show to provide his first-person perspective of covering that Draft and those superstars over the years. 

It's a first for Take A 20: a surprise ending! In this episode, we talk about Tom Brady’s very first Super Bowl in 2002. And his very first retirement -- and unretirement -- 20 years later. Boston Globe sport columnist Chris Gasper joins us to share his perspective on covering Brady and the Patriots' dynasty. When we began recording the episode Brady was no longer playing football. Now, he is. And that makes Josh very happy.

Josh Green and Mark Davidson are rolling deep into Season 3 of Take A 20. And speaking of #3, we are “Talking About Practice.” That’s the phrase that Allen Iverson passionately repeated 22 times 20 years ago. It’s one of the most famous press conference moments in sports history, and like everything involving Iverson, there’s a lot more to the story than we realized at the time. We have lots of questions about The Answer, and we’ll ask them to Matt Fine, a former TV sports anchor in Philadelphia and an Associate Professor in the Department of Media Studies and Production at Temple University.

Welcome to Season 3 of Take A 20! All season long, Mark Davidson and Josh Green will take you back to 2002. And we begin by going for gold. It's the 2002 Olympic Men's Hockey Gold Medal Game between Team USA and those darn Canadians. It was a milestone moment in Salt Lake City, staged in a raucous atmosphere and played with teeth-gritting intensity. We’ll dig into it with special guest, Aaron Miller, a 14 year NHL veteran, who was a defenseman for that USA squad.

In this episode, we celebrate some amazing "firsts" in the history of New York sports, beginning with Venus and Serena Williams facing-off in the 2001 U.S. Open Final, their first time meeting for a Grand Slam title. ESPN tennis analyst and Hall of Fame player, Pam Shriver, joins the pod to share her perspective of that magical night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Pam had a courtside view of the action. We also pay homage to another transcendent moment that altered the sports universe forever: the New York Knicks winning their first playoff game in 8 years.  This episode has it all. Legends! Champions! Trailblazers! Heroes!...and the Knicks.

We miss stadiums! So much so that we dedicated an entire episode to them. The retro stadium boom was in full bloom in 2001, highlighted by the opening of PNC Park in Pittsburgh -- a really great place to watch really bad baseball. Journalist and author Neil deMause, one of the foremost experts on how stadiums get built, joins the podcast to shed new light on the dark side of public financing  for these facilities. Neil's book, "Field of Schemes," exposes how team owners get all the benefits from this arrangement, while tax payers get stuck with the bill. 

In this episode of Take A  20, we honor the Hall of Fame career of Ray Bourque, who finally hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, after spending 20 Cup-less years with the Boston Bruins. Our cups overfloweth with hockey experts, including Head Coach of the Saint Michael's College Men's Hockey team, Damian DiGiulian, as well as our long-time friend Steve Itzkowitz, who knows more about the Bruins than anyone knows about anything. Plus, we find out what happens when a Stanley Cup champ, Phish and The Samples all walk into a bar in Burlington, VT.

In this episode of Take A 20, we confirm that defense does, indeed, win championships, as evidenced by the Baltimore Ravens’ dominating Super Bowl 35 victory. We celebrate the hard-hitting champs from Charm City, and ask the hard-hitting questions, such as who was the better boy band who performed during that game: The Backstreet Boys or NSYNC? Thankfully, we have one of the NFL’s best TV analysts, Charles Davis, to answer all of our burning football questions, from college to the pros to video game form.

It’s back, back, back to the Bay Area, as we make a splash landing in McCovey Cove to revisit the exploits of the Home Run King, Barry Bonds, who went deep a record-breaking 73 times in 2001. Longtime San Francisco Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming joins us for Take A 20 Questions to shed new light on the spectacular scope of Bonds’ career achievements. He also tells us what NOT to do when you’re around Bonds on a daily basis (hint: don’t get in the same elevator as Barry). While Dave’s golden voice carries the episode, we pay homage to another one of the Golden State’s top vocalists, Pat Monahan and the band Train.

Fear the Deer! And the Thunder! On this episode of Take A 20, we blow the whistle on the whistleblowers of the 2001 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, who ripped the sausage-stuffed hearts out of Milwaukee sports fans. Wisconsin sports media mainstay, “Thunder” Mitch Nelles, joins the show to re-live the agony of the Bucks’ excruciating loss in that series, which led many people to question the integrity of NBA officiating. Mitch also offers his thoughts on the state of sports in the Badgers state, including his scathing take on the Packers. 

It’s Daytona 500 week for NASCAR, and Take A 20 reflects on the moment when time stood still at the superspeedway. We revisit the surreal scenes of the crash that took the life of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. And we examine how two drivers continue to carry Dale’s legacy forward – his son, Dale Jr., and the man who replaced Earnhardt, Sr. in the driver’s seat, Kevin Harvick. The NASCAR King of Chicago, Ryan Eichler, joins us to put all of this in the proper historical perspective and to help us find the proper dose of humor and optimism in the road ahead.

We're Going Streaking! Take a 20 is back! In our Season 2 debut, we have double the fun taking a look at two baseball legacies that intersected in 2001. We celebrate the man of the iron streak, Cal Ripken, whose Hall of Fame career came to a close that year, and Joe Mauer, who was selected #1 overall in the 2001 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. Twins broadcaster Kris Atteberry joins the show to explain how these home-town heroes re-defined the game, while they also found a way to be awesome at everything in life. Kris then shares his thoughts on the state of baseball in 2021, his own journey to the Big Leagues, and how the fan experience has changed over the years. 

On this episode of Take A 20, we thank our lucky stars for the statutes of limitations that apply to any music we may or may not have downloaded via Napster in the year 2000, and we celebrate the creator of “Lucky Star,” Madonna. It’s a deep dive into the world of disruption in the music industry, beginning with the meteoric rise and fall of Napster. Top music executive Andrew Gould joins the show to share insights about the past, present and future of his business, and explains how the right mix of luck and hustle can launch new artists into stardom. 

The votes have been counted, and it’s another winning episode of Take A 20! In keeping with the election theme, we dissect the demise of a controversial leader, Bob Knight, who was ousted as Indiana University’s head basketball coach in 2000. A lot went right, and a whole lot went wrong during Coach Knight’s incendiary time at the top. Top sports agent and Indiana native, Todd Sermersheim, sheds light on the Bob Knight experience from all angles, and we also pay tribute to one of the best guys that sports has given us, Travis Roy, who recently passed away at the age of 45. Plus, REO Speedwagon meets Styx in 2000 – and awesomeness ensues.

It's a Take A 20 hat trick! On this episode, we discuss diversity in the NHL through the lens of two ice-breaking stars whose careers collided in 2000: Grant Fuhr and Scott Gomez. We also go toe-to-toe with our favorite tough guy, two-time Stanley Cup Champion and SVP of the Florida Panthers, Shawn Thornton, who tells us how his team is navigating through the pandemic, while advancing its own diversity initiatives. And we relive Shawn's 15 seconds of glory in the movie "Ted." Plus, a bonus tribute to Eddie Van Halen and an appreciation for Green Day.

In this episode of “Take A 20,” Mark Davidson and Josh Green take a break from apple picking to put the Big Apple in the spotlight. It’s an extended discussion about the 2000 World Series, better known as the Subway Series, between the Yankees and Mets. The Evil Empire had reached its zenith of evilness, while the Mets found themselves experiencing a whole lot of Met-ness. Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com joins the hosts for a game-by-game breakdown of the Series, including his first-person account of being in the stadium for the strangest moment in post-season history, Roger Clemens tossing a broken bat at Mike Piazza. 

Jews! Sports! Fun! In this episode of Take A 20, Mark Davidson and Josh Green tip their yarmulkes to two Jewish athletes, Shawn Green and Tamir Goodman, who were at the top of their games in 2000. In a fitting display of Jewish journalistic heroics, we tracked down Goodman in Israel, and he joins us for a revealing conversation about the pressures of living up to the “Jewish Jordan” nickname and how he continues to inspire athletes of all ages with his unique message of purpose and perseverance.

Happy convention week! Whether you prefer your conventions in-person, online or in podcast form, Take A 20 has you covered. In this week’s episode, we look back at the 2000 Democratic National Convention, which took place in Los Angeles and got really weird, really fast. Mark Davidson and Josh Green are joined by Staff Director of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Jeff Carroll, who explains what exactly happens at a convention and helps break down all the major moments from 2000, including Al Gore’s open mouth kiss and Rage Against the Machine’s open air concert that turned into a riot. As you might expect from a political discussion, things get heated when the gentlemen debate the greatest convention city ever (hint: it’s Boston) and the best New Jersey cover band to play at a convention party.

In this episode of "Take A 20," Josh Green and Mark Davidson celebrate the return of sports by talking about things that make us feel happy, like Kurt Warner's ultimate Cinderella story, which culminated in the St. Louis Rams' Super Bowl Victory over the Tennessee Titans. That game featured a dramatic finish, an epic halftime performance from Phil Collins and way too many commercials from dotcom companies who no longer exist. The co-hosts welcome special guest, Aaron Schatz, to preview his 2020 Football Outsiders Almanac and set the stage for the upcoming NFL season. Aaron also digs deep into the archives to discuss his former days as a radio DJ and to settle the raging debate about who is better: Sugar Ray or Smashmouth? 

The competition level is at an all-time high on this episode of "Take A 20," as co-hosts Josh Green and Mark Davidson engage in a heated (but friendly) battle to discuss Season 1 of "Survivor," one of the most transformational TV programs of all-time. A topic this big deserves a big guest, and Mark and Josh go straight to the source for an extended conversation with Emmy Award-winning TV/film producer Jamie Schutz, who was a Coordinating Field Producer for "Survivor" Season 1 and Season 2. Jamie dishes about his time on-set in Borneo and the Australian Outback -- from dodging poisonous snakes, to testing out the physical challenges, to creating a whole new category of TV programming -- as well as his current work as one of the leading sports documentarians in the business.

G'Day, Mates! In this episode of Take A 20, Mark Davidson and Josh Green continue their Australian expedition for Part 2 of their discussion about the 2000 Summer Olympics from Sydney. The co-hosts revisit Cathy Freeman's historic run for gold in the 400M, as well as Rulon Gardner's stunning victory over "the meanest man on the planet," Alexander Karelin. Mark and Josh are also joined by 2016 Olympic medalist, Kristi Castlin, for an extended conversation about the pressures and thrills of competing on the world's biggest stage. Plus, Mark shares insights from his appearance as a guest DJ, and Josh pays tribute to the greatest New England Patriots player you've never heard of.

In this episode of "Take a 20," Mark Davidson and Josh Green look back at the 2000 Summer Olympics from Sydney, Australia, while offering thoughts on the current state of the Olympic Games. The co-hosts dissect "The Dunk" and its long-term impact on Vince Carter, Frederic Weis and the woeful New York Knicks. They also pay tribute to the greatest Australian export of all-time, Olivia Newton John. Let's Get Physical!

In this week's episode of Take A 20, Mark Davidson and Josh Green look back at Tiger Woods' epic summer of 2000, which included victories at the US Open, British Open and PGA Championship. They also spend way too much time paying homage to Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 and re-live Mark's own nationwide music tour from the summer of 2000, which included a surprise visit to Josh's apartment in Bakersfield, CA. Josh attempts to answer the question "why does Tiger hate me?" and Mark offers tips on how to be the best sports dad.

Introducing Take A 20: Cultural Conversations 20 Years in the Making! In this inaugural episode of the Take A 20 podcast, hosts Josh Green and Mark Davidson lay the foundation for what's to come in future shows, as they share details about their 30+ year friendship and how sports and music shaped their own professional lives in the year 2000. Josh and Mark re-examine the 2000 NBA Playoffs through a modern lens, offering a new appreciation for the Los Angeles Lakers' dynasty, and lamenting what might have been for the Portland Trail Blazers and Indiana Pacers -- not to mention Mark's beloved New York Knicks. They also proclaim the utmost respect for Shaquille O'Neal's musical stylings.