Good Seats Still Available

ESPN didn't begin as a media giant — it started as a gamble. In 1979, a cash-strapped startup bet on an unproven proposition: a 24-hour sports cable TV network delivered by satellite, built largely on programming no one else wanted and live coverage that barely existed. By any conventional measure, it was an absurd idea. It also changed sports media forever. This week, we revisit that origin story through a new lens: "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN," premiering April 6th on (where else?) ESPN. The documentary traces how founders Bill Rasmussen, his son Scott, and an unlikely group of partners pushed past industry skepticism, financial instability, and the daunting challenge of programming an "always-on" sports network — laying the groundwork for what would become a global media powerhouse. Joining us are director Greg DeHart and producer Mike Soltys, ESPN's longtime institutional historian, to explore both the story itself and the challenge of telling it. Drawing on archival footage and interviews with the Rasmussens, along with early executives and production pioneers, the film captures the improvisational, high-risk reality of ESPN's earliest days. We discuss what the filmmakers uncovered that even seasoned observers may not know, how they balanced nostalgia with clear-eyed storytelling, and why ESPN's startup DNA — equal parts technological leap, programming opportunism, and entrepreneurial persistence — still resonates in today's fractured sports media landscape. "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN" premieres April 6th at 8:30pm ET on ESPN. The companion audiobook is also available now, with a hardcover book to be released in May. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store: http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY BUY THE BOOK: "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN": https://amzn.to/3PRz1cC SPONSOR THANKS: Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GoodSeatsStillAvailable Web: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-seats-still-available/

Nonfiction author extraordinaire Luke Epplin joins the pod this week to unpack the intertwined legacies of basketball legends Julius Erving and Moses Malone, as chronicled in his acclaimed new book, "Moses and the Doctor: Two Men, One Championship, and the Birth of Modern Basketball." What unfolds is more than a dual biography — it's a portrait of a transformational era when professional basketball's future hung in the balance. Epplin traces both players back to their early professional years, including their formative time in the upstart American Basketball Association. There, Erving's aerial artistry helped legitimize a bold, improvisational style of play, while Malone's relentless presence in the paint established a new model of dominance — built on effort, positioning, and physical control. Together, those contrasting identities shaped their transition to the NBA: Erving, the ever-visible icon and cultural ambassador; Malone, the quiet, force-of-nature interior anchor. Their partnership culminated in the Philadelphia 76ers' historic 1983 championship run — a moment that represented the perfect blend of style and substance, and altered the trajectory of the modern game. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store: http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY BUY THE BOOKS: "Moses and the Doctor: Two Men, One Championship, and the Birth of Modern Basketball": https://amzn.to/4lVpe0Z SPONSOR THANKS: Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GoodSeatsStillAvailable Web: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-seats-still-available/

Manhattanville University sports studies professor Seth Tannenbaum joins the show to unpack the provocative ideas behind his new book, "Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark" — a sweeping reexamination of the American ballpark and the myth of baseball as a truly democratic space. Tannenbaum walks us through how stadiums have long been designed not just for watching games, but for organizing fans — by class, access, and experience. From the crowded urban intimacy of early 20th-century parks to the rise of suburban, car-centric stadiums and today's amenity-driven retro designs, he argues that ballparks have consistently reflected — and reinforced — who the game is really "for." But this isn't just history. Our conversation explores what these patterns mean for the future: as teams double down on premium seating, luxury suites, and real estate-driven developments, are modern stadiums becoming even more exclusive? And in an era of shifting media consumption and evolving fan expectations, what does "access" to the live sports experience really look like going forward? It's a sharp, revealing discussion about baseball, business, and the subtle architecture of inclusion — and exclusion. PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of "Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites" in this week's trivia contest! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store: http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY BUY THE BOOKS: "Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark": https://amzn.to/4lHqYuG SPONSOR THANKS: Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GoodSeatsStillAvailable Web: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-seats-still-available/

This week, we dive into the remarkable history — and uncertain future — of soccer's greatest spectacle: the FIFA World Cup. Our guest is veteran journalist and soccer author Clemente Lisi, whose newly updated (and eminently essential!) book, "The World Cup: A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event, 2026 Edition," chronicles the tournament's extraordinary evolution from its modest beginnings in 1930 to the globe-spanning mega-event it is today. Drawing on decades of reporting and interviews, Lisi revisits some of the competition's most iconic matches, legendary players, and defining moments — from Pelé and Diego Maradona to the modern era of global superstars — that helped transform the World Cup into the most widely watched sporting event on the planet. But the conversation doesn't stop with history. With the 2026 edition — expanded to 48 teams for the first time — set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, we also explore whether the tournament could face unexpected headwinds. Sky-high ticket prices have already sparked backlash from fans and even US lawmakers -- while debates over immigration policy, visa access for international supporters, and rising infrastructure costs for host cities could complicate what should be a global celebration. Will the largest World Cup ever staged ignite a new era for soccer in North America — or expose the growing tensions between the sport's worldwide popularity and the economics of modern mega-events? We explore the past, present, and future scenarios of the World Cup in a wide-ranging conversation with one of the sport's most thoughtful chroniclers. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store: http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY BUY THE BOOK: "The World Cup: A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event, 2026 Edition": https://amzn.to/47LYKsV SPONSOR THANKS: Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GoodSeatsStillAvailable Web: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-seats-still-available/

Women's basketball is enjoying a remarkable surge in popularity — but it also stands at a pivotal moment. As the Women's National Basketball Association and the WNBA Players Association remain locked in difficult negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, the sport faces a paradox: unprecedented visibility and momentum, yet uncertainty just weeks before the next season. In many ways, the tension reflects the league's maturation—and serves as a reminder of the decades-long struggle that built the modern women's game. This week, we explore that history with Emma Baccellieri and Jordan Robinson, authors of the sweeping new book "Court Queens: Celebrate the Players, Teams, and History of Women's Basketball." Baccellieri, a staff writer at Sports Illustrated, and Robinson — who covers women's basketball across multiple outlets, including Audacy's "The Women's Hoops Show" podcast — have created a richly researched and visually stunning chronicle of the sport's evolution: from 1892, when Senda Berenson introduced basketball to women at Smith College, through the collegiate era of the AIAW and the rise of the NCAA tournament, early pro experiments like the late-1970s Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) and the 1990s American Basketball League (ABL), and ultimately the launch — and staying power — of the WNBA. Packed with hundreds of photos, memorabilia, and vivid storytelling, "Court Queens" celebrates the pioneers, iconic teams, unforgettable games, and overlooked trailblazers who fought for opportunity across more than 130 years of basketball history. Our conversation explores those stories — and why understanding that long arc of progress makes today's moment for women's basketball feel both thrilling and consequential. PLUS: your chance to win a copy of "Court Queens" in our vaunted trivia contest! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store: http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY BUY THE BOOKS: "Court Queens: Celebrate the Players, Teams, and History of Women's Basketball": https://amzn.to/4bg6Jj4 SPONSOR THANKS: Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GoodSeatsStillAvailable Web: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-seats-still-available/