Legends Of Sport With Andrew D. Bernstein

As we've highlighted time & time again on this podcast - not all Legends of Sport are forward facing. This week, Andy chats with longtime colleague, friend, & former USC Sports Information Director - Tim Tessalone! Over Tim's 43-year tenure at USC - his office publicized 47 National Championships across the Men's & Women's sports programs, 267 Olympians, 5 Heisman Trophy Winners, 12 Rose Bowl's(that the USC Trojans participated in), and countless honors. Andy & Tim discuss his sports fandom growing up in Southern California, his path to USC & the world of PR, how the world of Public Relations has changed over the years due to technology, & so much more! Plus, the time Will Ferrell interned for his office, how NIL deals are changing college sports, & a few stories from cutting their teeth together over the years!

Andy chats with fellow Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Famer, Nancy Lieberman! The two discuss Nancy's early days in Far Rockaway & Rucker Park, her crazy path to the USA Basketball Team roster at age 17, winning the Silver Medal in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott, the Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL), training Martina Navratilova, the Banana Boat, being a Mother/Player, her (first) coming-out-of-retirement moment, punching Bridget Pettis, and more! Plus, coming out of retirement (a second time) at age 50, coaching her way to a championship in the BIG 3 League, & her current projects with Nancy Lieberman charities.

Andy & the LOS team took the podcast on the road to the 2022 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame enshrinement ceremony! Andy chats with enshrinees from this year & years past, presenters, past guests, media members & great friends! Hear conversations with basketball's biggest names, such as; John Doleva, Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen, Bob Huggins, Nancy Lieberman, Walt Frazier, Tim Hardaway, Jason Zone Fisher, Del Harris, Spencer Haywood, Marc Stein, Teresa Shank Grentz, Charles Barkley, & Chris Mullin!

Hey Kobe fans! This week, Andy chats with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist/author Mike Sielski about his new book, "The Rise: Kobe Bryant And The Pursuit Of Immortality". Andy & Mike take a deep dive into how the Mamba became the Mamba! The two analyze the common threads between each other's books, the genesis of "The Rise", Kobe's arrival to America & Lower Merion HS, how he sharpened his talent around the Philadelphia area, an important moment from an early karate lesson, his first time meeting Michael Jordan as a freshman in high school, how he studied Andy's photos, plus the first EVER Mamba Mentality Lightning Round!! Andy & Mike also discuss Kobe's post-career path, the tragic day of his passing, the thousands of Kobe murals all around the world, & the lasting legacy that he leaves us with. Join us while we unpack the stories & tiny details that made a legend

This week's LOS CLASSIC, we flash back to the Bubble! Andy chats with WNBA legend Candace Parker! Andy & Candace talk about her early influences, how Kobe Bryant influenced her career, her time with coach Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee, & more! Candace also talks about the playoff bubble, discussions with her daughter about social justice issues, her Ron Harper fandom, as well as how she balances being a mom & a pro athlete! Andy & Candace also discuss the new CBA & how it will affect the new generation of players, her career in the media, her post-career evolution, how she wants to be remembered, & so much more! Original Air Date: October 13, 2020.

This week's LOS CLASSIC - Andy chats with 12-time Emmy winning, Hall Of Fame sports journalist, Jim Gray, about his new book - "Talking To GOATs!" Andy & Jim discuss the genesis of the book, his path into the industry, early inspirations, cutting his teeth as a video tape editor, the countless memories featured in his book, lessons from Coach Chuck Daly, the influence of his father, & memories of Kobe Bryant. Hear the backstories of Jim's biggest interviews & subjects over the years - from his very first interview with Muhammed Ali, conversations with Tom Brady & Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan's first retirement, the return of baseball after 9/11, the Atlanta Olympic bombing, The Malice in the Palace, a kiss from Mike Tyson, & so many more! Original Air Date: December 8, 2020

The Dream Team! USA Basketball's Legendary lineup from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona - Widely considered the greatest basketball team ever assembled! Andy chats with the former Assistant Coach of the Dream Team, Hall Of Famer - P.J. Carlesimo! Andy & P.J. share thoughts & memories from the experience that summer, 30 years ago! Andy & P.J. discuss how he got the call to join the coaching staff, Head Coach Chuck Daly's approach to coaching the team, his first time meeting Larry Bird, dynamics between team members, & winning the Gold Medal! Andy & P.J. remember traveling with the team, practices in Monte Carlo, 'Harry & Larry', shooting the Team Photo, Gold Medal moments, & more memories from the greatest team to ever touch the court!

Andy sits down with former Los Angeles Lakers Head Athletic Trainer – Gary Vitti – to discuss his book "32 years of Titles & Tears from the Best Seat In The House: What I Learned About Happiness, Leadership, & Greatness". Gary describes the many lessons learned from NBA greats like Pat Riley, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Kobe, Shaq, Phil Jackson, & many more! Gary expands on the path to his first year with the Lakers in 1984 under head coach Pat Riley, & how the position has evolved over 32 years. Hear stories of plane rides with Chick Hearn, Pat Riley’s 12+2+1 formula, the personal pain & trauma behind Magic Johnson’s HIV diagnosis, getting caught between Kobe & Shaq, & the importance of the Lakers ‘85 championship. PLUS, a few tales of Kobe Bryant’s world-class work ethic – including being waterboarded by Navy SEALS, & the reverse bear trap. Original Air Date: August 20, 2019.

Andy chats with veteran NBA coach Phil Weber! Andy & Phil discuss his new book "How Do You Make Them Thirsty?", the genesis of the book, lessons his many years coaching under Mike D'Antoni, his philosophy in player development, and how he gained the respect as a coach by many of the league's superstars like Steve Nash & Kobe Bryant! Andy & Phil also talk about team culture with the Heat under Pat Riley, the Suns' team trip to Italy, what made Amar'e Stoudemire great, team photo shoots with Andy, his experiences working alongside a young Kobe Bryant, how meeting John Wooden changed his life, and so much more!

This week's LOS CLASSIC, Andy chats with legendary basketball player & broadcaster Ann Meyers Drysdale! Andy & Ann discuss her book "You Let Some Girl Beat You," dynamics of her early life, where her dream of becoming an Olympian began, the importance of recognizing female role models, signing with the Indiana Pacers in 1979, her extensive broadcasting journey, playing in the Women's Professional Basketball League(WPBL), and more! Ann also discusses her many "firsts", Title IX, the Men's Superstars & Women Superstars, pickup games with Tommy Lasorda, golfing with husband Don Drysdale, trail blazers, resiliency, and memories of Kobe Bryant. Original Air Date: March 16, 2021.

Andy chats with NBA writer/author Ben Golliver about his new book Bubbleball: The NBA's Fight To Save A Season. Andy & Ben recap their unique journey through the NBA Bubble, sharing stories about the experience in what Ben calls, "An incredible Public Health story, an incredible Business story, & an incredible Basketball story". Andy & Ben discuss the NBA’s decision to shut down the season in March, the difficult decisions behind attempting the bubble, the many surprises they both encountered, covering topics outside of basketball, the most memorable moments on the court, and the genesis of his new book!

Andy invites friend & fellow Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award winner - Peter Vecsey! Peter shares his journey as a sportswriter from ABA to NBA, being an analyst for TNT & NBC, his legendary "Hoop du Jour" column in the NY Post, how covering the game has changed over the years, how the game itself has changed, and his opinion on the Warriors recent championship! Andy & Peter also discuss the "Winning Time" series & its depiction of the late Jerry West, the importance of "game arrivals" today, a special dinner he had with Kobe Bryant before his passing, the impact of Steph Curry on today's game, & his current projects!

We decided to kick off the summer with a little MAGIC! Andy sits down with the great Earvin "Magic" Johnson at his offices in Los Angeles, in the spring of 2018. Andy & Magic talk about their friendship over the last 40 years, Magic's favorite shots of Andy's, the impact of the Lakers & Celtics rivalry thru the Showtime era, his relationship with Dr. Jerry Buss, his reconciliation with Isiah Thomas, and his role as Lakers President! Magic discusses playing on Team USA with Larry Bird in 1978, the start of he & Larry's friendship after a Converse commercial shoot, his favorite Lakers Championship team, "the Spencer Haywood Rule", his HIV Awareness campaign in China with Yao Ming, and Magic reacts to some of Andy's most iconic photos. Original Air Date: April 9, 2018.

Andy chats with NBA Legend - Spencer Haywood! Andy & Spencer discuss how he went from picking cotton to changing the NBA forever via "The Spencer Haywood Rule", his experiences on the 1968 US Olympic Gold Medal Team, hurdles getting to the NBA, his battles with addiction, and becoming an "unintentional pioneer". Spencer also gives his takes on his NBA Top 75 snub, the "Winning Time" TV series, the Seattle Supersonics, and he tells us about a project that nearly happened with Kobe Bryant. Go check out Spencer's Book & Podcast, "The Spencer Haywood Rule".

With the NBA Finals in full effect, we decided to turn the tables on Andy to hear about his 40 years of covering the event. Andy is joined by NBA Host Jason Zone Fisher who takes Andy down memory lane of his 212 NBA Finals games. (Yes, you read that number correctly). The man who's seen more NBA Finals games up close than anyone, shares what it's been like capturing the chaos & emotions, the evolution of NBA photography, special moments behind the scenes, managing his own fandom & emotions, & so much more! Andy takes us behind the lens of his prep work, shares his proudest photos, the most difficult shot in sports to capture, players who relish the spotlight, unique moments where he decided NOT to shoot, and the thru line that all championship teams share.

This week's LOS CLASSIC, Andy is joined by the 'LeBron James of Sports Broadcasting' - Doris Burke! Doris tells us about being the youngest of eight, where her love for basketball began, her path to Providence College, & how she turned a life of basketball into a career behind the mic! Doris shares her perspective on the evolution of the game of basketball throughout the years, changes she'd like to see in the WNBA, managing the chaos of live broadcasting, advice for females in a male-dominated businesses, & Doris turns the tables on Andy! Lastly, Doris & Andy talk about being recipients of the 2018 Curt Gowdy Media Award & what the award meant to them. Original Air Date: June, 11, 2019.

This week's LOS CLASSIC features 13-year NBA star - Baron Davis! Andy chats with Baron about growing up in South Central LA, his recruitment process out of Crossroads High School, being drafted No. 3 overall in 1999 by Charlotte, the franchise move to New Orleans, his time playing with the LA Clippers, and his passion for storytelling! Andy & Baron also discuss one of the greatest upsets in NBA history - when he and the No. 8 seed Golden State Warriors defeated the No. 1 seed Dallas Mavericks; the first time an 8-seed defeated a 1-seed in NBA playoff history. Baron also shares a few memories of Kobe Bryant, the numerous projects and productions he's involved with, and much more! Original Air Date: September 1, 2020.

Andy invites former President & GM of The Forum in Los Angeles - Claire Rothman. Andy & Claire dive into her journey that led to her becoming a key figure that shaped the Showtime Lakers era during the 1980's. Andy & Claire talk about how she met & was hired by Jack Kent Cooke, memories of working with Dr. Jerry Buss, her opinions on the 'Winning Time' franchise, and stories from the Showtime era! Claire details the events that lead to her introducing Mr. Cook & Dr. Jerry Buss, earning a $100k raise from Dr. Buss, Jeanie Buss' growth as an executive, plus thoughts on Lee Zeidman, Kobe Bryant, and the LA Kings.

In honor of #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, this week's LOS CLassic features Andy & NBA Champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers - Kevin Love! Kevin tells us how he's staying physically & mentally active during the shutdown, & how he's opening the dialogue on dealing with the anxieties of the pandemic. Kevin talks about his personal journey with anxiety & depression, the impact of his article in the Players' Tribune, & his passion to normalize the conversations about mental health! Andy & Kevin also discuss his 2016 championship run with the Cavs, & the 2012 Olympic team! PLUS, Kevin shares a special NEVER BEEN HEARD story about Kobe Bryant, from after the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal game vs. Spain. Original Air Date: May 21, 2020.

Andy chats with former NBA Referee & former undercover New Jersey State Trooper - Bob Delaney! Bob discusses his life & journey as an undercover state trooper, working to infiltrate the mob under the persona "Bobby Covert". Bob details his battles with PTSD in transitioning back to normal life, & why he's dedicated his life to educating & advocating for the condition. Andy & Bob also discuss how he became an NBA referee after his stint in law enforcement, & his focus now in trying to spread awareness for the medical condition of this millennium - mental health.