REAL DEAL with Tony Reali

Tony Kornheiser. Mike Wilbon. And the kid they called Stat Boy. Back together, with a few things to clear up. Before Pardon the Interruption, there was press row. Typewriters. Deadlines. A Washington Post newsroom full of extraordinary writers who could argue about anything and make each other laugh doing it. Kornheiser and Wilbon spent years in that world before anyone put a television camera in front of them. I wanted to know how their friendship began. They wanted me to stop trying to turn it into a screenplay. As PTI turns 25, I’m back with two people who helped shape my life, revisiting the stories they’ve been telling for as long as I’ve known them. We go back to the 1988 Olympics, a knockout Wilbon saw coming and Kornheiser didn’t, and the Marvin Gaye national anthem that Tony decided was more important than the All-Star Game itself. There’s also the night Mike slipped away from his own engagement party to shoot a television pilot. Tony was supposed to help cover for him. You can imagine how that went. Then there’s PTI: why Tony thought it would be off the air in three weeks, why they let a 22-year-old correct them on television, and what they make of the sports debate industry today. Through all of it, they keep coming back to the work, the newsroom and the people who made them better. After 25 years on television, they still describe themselves the same way: newspaper sportswriters. They also reveal that they rarely go more than two days without calling each other. Usually because they’re watching the same game and have something to say. Naturally, I have one more question: If PTI ended tomorrow, would you two actually see each other? Welcome to Episode 022 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. 03:50 Before PTI, there was the newsroom 05:01 REAL DEAL, Stat Boy and the nickname dispute 06:21 Kornheiser and Wilbon’s old photos 08:40 The 1988 Olympics and the knockout Wilbon saw coming 10:48 The Great Wall, a flight home and a face in the soup 13:46 Simply Irresistible: Their Washington Post bylines 15:10 Is PTI an old married couple? 16:37 How did Kornheiser and Wilbon actually become friends? 19:37 The Washington Post newsroom that shaped them 22:55 Do they hang out? Have they ever really fought? 26:48 Sharing the spotlight and welcoming Stat Boy 27:43 Why PTI let a 22-year-old correct its hosts 31:05 Marvin Gaye’s anthem and Kornheiser’s column 32:54 Why Kornheiser thought PTI wouldn’t last 35:27 Wilbon left his engagement party to shoot a TV pilot 37:14 “We are newspaper sportswriters” 38:48 Kornheiser’s clock and Wilbon’s arrival time 40:06 The phone calls that never stopped 41:23 Darko, LeBron and getting predictions wrong 43:12 PTI, hot takes and the state of sports debate 46:14 Fatherhood, grandfatherhood and who’s gotten angrier 48:11 “It’s not my world”: Getting older as everything changes 49:47 If PTI ended tomorrow, would they still see each other? Subscribe to Tony Reali’s channel for more REAL DEAL: unforgettable sports moments and the people who bring them to life. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bases loaded. Two outs. Game 7. Carlos Beltran at the plate, with a trip to the World Series still within reach. Adam Wainwright throws a curveball, Beltran never swings, and an entire stadium goes silent. Twenty years later, Mets fans are still looking at that pitch. And looking for someone to blame. Frank “the Tank” Fleming joins me to relive the final out of the 2006 NLCS, and if you think you know what he’s going to say about Beltran, you might want to hear him out. We watch the at-bat, revisit Endy Chavez’s incredible catch, and get into the missed opportunity Frank thinks really cost the Mets the game. For a man with a list of his most hated Mets, he has a surprising amount of understanding for the guy who kept the bat on his shoulder. Then we climb the Mets misery ladder. Tom Glavine and the 2007 collapse. Kenny Rogers walking in the winning run. Luis Castillo dropping the pop-up that sent Frank’s kitchen table flying. Matt Harvey going back out for the ninth. And yes, Frank has thoughts about letting Pete Alonso walk. But we also talk about the kid who carried the burden of the Mets’ 1988 NLCS loss for years, the life Frank has built around being a fan, and whether he would trade any of it to make the frustration go away. Welcome to Episode 021 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. 00:00 Intro 01:34 Carlos Beltran caught looking 02:34 Frank the Tank joins REAL DEAL 03:16 Where Frank watched Game 7 04:40 The injuries that changed the 2006 Mets 06:09 Simply Irresistible: Wainwright’s curveball 08:32 The other side of the story: Wainwright and Molina 10:08 Endy Chavez’s catch and the opportunity the Mets wasted 12:01 Why wasn’t Billy Wagner pitching the ninth? 15:25 Bases loaded, two outs, Beltran at the plate 17:27 Rewatching Beltran’s final at-bat 18:39 Why Frank doesn’t blame Beltran 19:15 Beltran, Gary Carter and retiring Mets numbers 22:08 A great pitch or a hitter choking? 22:47 Piazza, Clemens and the 2000 World Series 25:32 Frank on Mets fandom: “I’m beyond anger” 26:50 Why letting Pete Alonso walk infuriates Frank 28:20 The Mets misery ladder 29:17 Tom Glavine and the 2007 collapse 30:39 Was sending Matt Harvey back out the right call? 31:20 Kenny Rogers walks in the winning run 32:24 Luis Castillo’s dropped pop-up and Frank’s flipped table 33:27 Trading Tom Seaver and the Generation K disappointment 35:46 Frank called the Pete Crow-Armstrong trade 36:30 Pete Alonso, “Pink Pony Club” and Edwin Diaz 37:09 The childhood Mets loss that still hurts 39:18 Would Frank trade away his Mets fandom? 40:16 Frank’s wish for Edwin Diaz and the Dodgers 41:08 How Frank’s life and relationship with sports have changed 42:31 Frank’s weight loss and feeling better at 50 43:30 Frank’s REAL DEAL gift 43:45 Tony’s final thought: Who gets the blame? Subscribe to Tony Reali’s channel for more REAL DEAL. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 4, 2018. Fourth and goal. Thirty-eight seconds before halftime. Nick Foles walks over to Doug Pederson and asks, “You want Philly Philly?” His proposal: let a tight end throw a touchdown pass to a backup quarterback who has never caught a ball in his NFL career. In the Super Bowl. Against Bill Belichick. Pederson stares at him for 2.23 seconds. Then he says yes. The great Peter King joins me to relive the Philly Special and the little details that made something so preposterous possible. Why Foles couldn’t smile in the huddle. Why Trey Burton had to keep his glove on. And why Foles turned down $150,000 before playing the greatest game of his life. Tom Brady threw for 505 yards that night. Nick Foles went home with the trophy. Eventually, even Mick Jagger had something to say about it. Peter’s new book, THE GAME, which is out today, brings together stories from 40 years covering the NFL, and we get into a few more of them: Peyton Manning’s tanning-bed preparation for the combine, the inside help Dak Prescott got before his Cowboys interview, and the quarterback San Francisco picked instead of Tom Brady who became an actual goat farmer. Plus, Peter makes his case for the perfect football career. Brady? Manning? Madden? His answer might surprise you. Welcome to Episode 020 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Subscribe to REAL DEAL with Tony Reali for more unforgettable sports moments and the people who bring them to life. 0:00 The Philly Special0:52 Peter King joins REAL DEAL2:11 Why this play still amazes Peter4:35 Doug Pederson’s 2.23-second decision7:24 Don’t smile. Don’t take off the glove.9:26 How the Eagles fooled the Patriots11:04 Nick Foles’ focus and the $150,000 he turned down13:55 Mick Jagger’s shoutout to Nick Foles15:44 How the NFL became a year-round obsession18:17 Peter’s case against an 18th game20:12 The trust between quarterback and coach22:58 Mahomes and Reid vs. Brady and Belichick24:26 What fans don’t know about the NFL26:46 Story time: Picking up Boomer Esiason27:59 Peyton Manning’s bizarre combine preparation29:33 How Dak Prescott got the answers to the test31:00 The 49ers picked a future goat farmer over Tom Brady32:53 The Seahawks’ prank on Marshawn Lynch34:22 Peter’s favorite story: Paul Tagliabue after 9/1137:53 Who had the perfect football career?42:03 Peter’s Philly Special gift43:18 Tony’s final thought on Peter King Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifteen strikeouts. A playoff win. And a strike zone that still makes you wonder what, exactly, you’re watching. Let’s go back to Game 5 of the 1997 NLCS. Livan Hernandez is on the mound for the Florida Marlins, Greg Maddux is pitching for the Atlanta Braves, and Eric Gregg is behind home plate. As the game goes on, pitches outside become strikes, Braves hitters start swinging at balls they can barely reach, and Hernandez finishes with 15 strikeouts. Then comes the final pitch to Fred McGriff. Watch it and tell me: HOW is that a strike? Joey Duffield from Baseball Doesn’t Exist joins me to relive one of the most baffling games in baseball history. We watch the calls, debate how much credit Hernandez deserves, and argue over whether the Braves choked or got absolutely hosed. Joey has some conspiracy theories. I have some objections. Then we take on a bigger question: Is baseball actually better with mistakes? From Jeffrey Maier’s catch to Armando Galarraga’s stolen perfect game and George Brett’s pine tar eruption, we revisit the calls that got it wrong and gave us stories we’ll never forget. Welcome to Episode 019 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Were the Braves robbed? And which blown call in baseball history still bothers you? Tell us in the comments. 00:00 Intro01:34 The Pitch That Still Makes No Sense02:34 Joey Duffield from Baseball Doesn’t Exist Joins03:57 Setting the Scene: The 1997 NLCS04:38 The Numbers Behind Livan Hernandez’s 15 Strikeouts07:33 Growing Up a Braves Fan10:47 Rewatching the Infamous Eric Gregg Game12:58 Eric Gregg’s Strike Zone and Career Fallout14:00 Can an Umpire Have His Own Strike Zone?15:04 The Theories Behind the Eric Gregg Game18:14 How Much Credit Does Livan Hernandez Deserve?20:07 Why Didn’t the Braves Argue More?21:32 Were the Braves Robbed?23:26 The Braves Dynasty That Could Have Been28:05 Is Baseball Better with Mistakes?28:20 Jeffrey Maier’s Controversial Catch29:53 Armando Galarraga’s Stolen Perfect Game32:05 Did Matt Holliday Touch Home Plate?32:58 George Brett’s Pine Tar Eruption34:33 Don Denkinger’s Blown World Series Call35:59 Joey’s Final Verdict on Eric Gregg37:18 Joey’s REAL DEAL Phone Case37:42 Tony’s Final Take: Leaving Room for Human Error   Subscribe to Tony Reali’s channel for more REAL DEAL. You can also listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 1, 2009. The Steelers and Cardinals met at Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl XLIII. And just before halftime, James Harrison made history. He picked off Kurt Warner at the goal line and rumbled 100 yards the other way for a touchdown. The longest pick-six ever. This is a man who looks like he cools down at the gym by deadlifting a Toyota Sequoia, but in the span of one play, Harrison looked both superhuman and human. He had just done something no one had ever done, on the sport's biggest stage, and needed an oxygen mask just to make it to the third quarter. The Steelers won that night, and a 15-year-old Joey Mulinaro celebrated with a Steelers cookie cake, soaking in a memory that would forever be burned into his temporal lobe. Now Joey joins me to relive the moment and remember the Pittsburgh legends who made it happen. Welcome to Episode 018 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. 00:00 James Harrison's legendary 100-yard pick six 00:54 Joey Molinaro joins REAL DEAL 03:43 Joey remembers watching Super Bowl XLIII 07:20 Simply Irresistible: How long did Harrison's return take? 10:28 Remembering the 2008 Steelers 15:28 Rewatching James Harrison's pick six 20:09 Harrison makes the interception 23:02 How did Harrison actually make it 100 yards? 27:28 The massive Super Bowl swing 30:33 What if Harrison never makes the play? 34:00 Who is the ultimate "Steelers Steeler"? 45:27 Joey Molinaro calls the play as Gus Johnson   Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2021 Giants were a rough team to watch. Not much went right. There were injuries, tons of losses and, to cap off the season, one of the most baffling and embarrassing sequences in team history. Jake Fromm was at QB, and the Giants were backed up at their own five-yard line. They ran a QB sneak on 2nd-and-11. Then, on 3rd-and-9, they ran it...again? That’s the moment we’re covering on today’s REAL DEAL with comedian and die-hard Giants fan John Franklin. John joins me to try to explain the Joe Judge-era Giants, while also revisiting some of the other head-scratching and confounding moments in team history. We laughed, we cried, and then we laughed again. Welcome to Episode 017 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. 00:00 Intro 03:27 The Giants' Infamous Back-to-Back QB Sneaks 04:22 John Franklin Joins the Show 06:35 WHY Did the Giants Do That?! 09:59 The Longest QB Sneak in NFL History 12:24 Remembering the 2021 Giants 17:28 Breaking Down the First QB Sneak 19:32 The Unbelievable 3rd-and-9 QB Sneak 20:55 Is There ANY Defense for This Play Call? 23:59 Ranking the Giants' Biggest "WHY?!" Moments 24:28 Jaxson Dart's Injury 25:25 The Giants' Coaching Carousel 26:20 Ben McAdoo's Infamous Suit 27:16 Daniel Jones' $160 Million Contract 27:40 The Saquon Barkley Hard Knocks Call 28:37 Benching Eli Manning 29:42 Punting to DeSean Jackson 30:43 The Infamous Giants Boat Photo 31:14 One Medium Pepsi 32:12 John's Final Giants Ranking 33:28 John's REAL DEAL Phone Case 34:26 The Giants Surrender 34:45 The Greatest Giants QB Sneak Ever? Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's go back 10 years to the 2016 NFL Draft. Fourteen minutes before the first pick, it's a normal draft night full of excitement, hope and anticipation. Thirteen minutes before, everything changes. A video of Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil smoking from a gas mask bong hits his own Twitter account, and chaos ensues. Tunsil's stock plummets, and the Miami Dolphins take him 13th overall. Three years later, after he's turned a disastrous draft night into a Pro Bowl career, Tunsil is at the center of a blockbuster trade to Houston. The fallout from that trade reshaped the NFL for years. The great Bill Barnwell was gracious enough to join me for this one! He remembers watching the drama unfold in real time, walks me through the full butterfly effect, explains how the leak might play out today, and makes the case that the biggest winner of the whole thing was...Laremy Tunsil. Welcome to Episode 016 of REAL DEAL. I'm Tony Reali, and I'm so happy you're here. 0:00 The Laremy Tunsil Gas Mask Photo 4:00 How Many NFL Players Did This Moment Affect? 7:00 Bill Barnwell Remembers Watching It Unfold Live 9:13 Why the NFL Draft Broadcast Couldn’t Address It Yet 11:11 Just How Good Was Laremy Tunsil as a Prospect? 14:27 NFL Teams React to the Photo in Real Time 17:47 Who Leaked the Laremy Tunsil Video? 21:14 How Much Money Did Tunsil Lose? 25:09 Would the Same Photo Matter Today? 26:13 The Butterfly Effect Begins 30:13 How the Tunsil Trade Changed the NFL 32:25 From Trey Lance to Jaylen Waddle and Micah Parsons 33:58 How Tyreek Hill Became Part of the Tunsil Tree 35:43 Bradley Chubb and Sean Payton Join the Chain 37:20 The Most Bizarre Images in NFL History 42:04 The 36-Player Laremy Tunsil Family Tree 44:16 The Ultimate Winner: Laremy Tunsil Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Episode 015 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. 00:00 Josh Allen’s Iconic Hurdle 02:27 Was This the Moment Josh Allen Became Josh Allen? 04:35 Simply Irresistible: Josh Allen Trivia 07:00 What Did We Think of Rookie Josh Allen? 10:26 Breaking Down the Hurdle 13:42 What the Hurdle Told Us About Josh Allen 15:13 Is Josh Allen’s “Hero Ball” a Feature or a Bug? 17:02 What’s Still on the Line for Josh Allen? 20:03 More or Less: Josh Allen Edition 23:14 Brandon Perna’s REAL DEAL Gift 23:45 Does the Josh Allen Hurdle Still Hold Up? Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rams 54 Chiefs 51. This game had everything.  There was a change of venue, from Mexico City to LA, there was a young Patrick Mahomes, slinging it all over the field, there was an ascending Jared Goff, there were touchdowns in the air, there were touchdowns on the ground, there were fumbles, there were interceptions, and there was a whole lot of Samson Ebukam! It’s a classic NFL regular season game, one that many have dubbed the greatest regular season game of all-time.  To help me determine where this game belongs in the annals of history, I’m joined by Football 301’s Nate Tice. He broke everything down, and shared some mind-blowing insights, about how this game influenced the modern NFL, along the way. What do you think? Is it the BEST regular season game ever played on an NFL field? Welcome to Episode 014 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s nothing like fan traditions in sports, especially when it comes to college football. This episode of REAL DEAL takes us back to October 5th, 2024, down in Nashville, where an unranked Vandy was taking on number one-ranked Alabama. Everyone knew how this game was supposed to go. Alabama wins by a bunch, uneventful night, maybe some hot chicken as a late-night snack, and we all go home. But that’s not what happened. Vandy won! For one night, and one night only, Diego Pavia was the most famous Commodore, briefly supplanting Lionel Richie. The fans went nuts and, as is tradition, stormed the field and ripped down the goalposts. But it didn’t end there. They marched the goalposts out of the stadium, all the way down Broadway, and hurled them into the Cumberland River! Fan tradition at its finest. College Football Happy Hour’s Lucy Rohden joins us this week to relive all the madness from that night and talk through some of the best traditions in all of college football. Welcome to Episode 013 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new NFL season is underway and, just like that, Week 1 is in the books. How are you feeling? Riding the high of a huge win? Proclaiming that the season is over and throwing your team’s jersey in the nearest trash can? Overreacting to losses, especially in the NFL, is a time-honored tradition. In reality, nothing is ever quite as good or as bad as it seems…yet. In some cases, though, losses really can be as bad as they seem. That was certainly the case for the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of the 2002 season, when an over-exuberant Dwayne Rudd threw his helmet in celebration and helped snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. On today’s show, I relive that infamous moment with Nick Kostos, along with a bunch of other seismic NFL losses. Some were every bit as devastating as they seemed at the time. Others, as Nick points out, aren’t as bad once you add a little bit of context. What’s the worst NFL loss you’ve ever experienced? Let me know in the comments! Welcome to Episode 012 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven touchdowns. Zero interceptions. 462 yards. Peyton Manning, then the Broncos’ quarterback, opened the 2013 NFL season with one of the most ridiculous performances ever, torching the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens and kicking off what would become a record-setting season. Was it the best start to a season by a quarterback ever? Or maybe by any player ever?! With Week 1 finally upon us, Tony is joined by Underscore Media’s John Jastremski to relive Peyton’s perfect start and ask a bigger question: How much should we actually believe what we see in Week 1? Tony and JJ look back at some of the greatest season-opening performances ever, debate Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady at their absolute peaks, and look at some hypothetical Week 1 overreactions for the 2026 NFL season. Welcome to Episode 011 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out Indefinitely: Mononucleosis. This phrase instantly evokes a memory of an ESPN graphic that was immediately added to the file of embarrassing things that have happened to the New York Jets. The graphic in question featured Sam Darnold looking locked in, if not menacing, while the text next to him announced that he was out with…mono. The moment was a microcosm of Darnold’s career as a Jet, and everyone assumed that mononucleosis and “seeing ghosts” would be the most memorable parts of what was supposed to be a storied career. Then, over time, the worm turned. A successful season in Minnesota, a move to Seattle, a miraculous season out west and boom: Sam Darnold was a Super Bowl Champion. Today I’m joined by my old friend Mina Kimes, who’s going to help me figure out if Sam Darnold’s second act is one of the most impressive in NFL history. If it isn’t the best, it’s certainly close. Welcome to Episode 010 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 1st, 2007, the Big Ten Network made its debut, airing what should have been a relatively uneventful game between Michigan and Appalachian State. Instead, it turned into one of, if not the biggest, college football upsets of all time! A back-and-forth battle ended with a dramatic blocked field goal, a moment that hasn’t left my mind since it happened. And it begs the question: are upsets of that magnitude dead? Has the disparity between teams made it nearly impossible for an App State to head into the Big House and take down Michigan? Will we ever see something like this again? To help me relive this moment and explain the viability of a shocking upset in modern college football, I’m joined by Ty Hildenbrandt and Dan Rubenstein of The Solid Verbal. We remember some guys, talk about what an upset would look like in the 2026 college football landscape, and get in our time machines to go back to 2007, when NFL legends were still in college and people were watching games on Sony WEGA televisions. Welcome to Episode 009 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks The Solid Verbal. If you don’t already listen tot heir show, check it out wherever you get podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solid-verbal-college-football/id270037732   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re LIVE at the US Open with former Wimbledon quarterfinalist and current voice of tennis on ESPN, TNT, and Tennis Channel, Chris Eubanks. Chris is here to help me unpack one of, if not my favorite tennis moments ever. It was 1991. I was a little kid watching the Yankees. Shortly after the game ended, I was swallowed whole by the raucous celebrations and charismatic energy of a 39-yard old Jimmy Connors. Connors was making an outrageous run at the US Open, upsetting one opponent after the next and slowly transforming a tennis crowd into a rabid New York crowd, one making noises normally reserved for a metal concert in a football stadium. It was incredibly cool. Connors didn’t get the job done that year, but the run has stuck with me, and every tennis fan who experienced that moment,  ever since. More than three decades later, it remains a huge part of US Open lore. Chris Eubanks wasn’t born yet when Connors turned Louis Armstrong Stadium into a rock concert, but he gives me his view of the moment from the perspective of a guy who’s been there. We talk about momentum in tennis, what it’s like to go viral as an athlete, and the greatest showmen in tennis history. Oh, and I tried my best to get him to do the patented Connors hip thrust and fist pump. I tried. Welcome to Episode 008 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we enter the 2026 college football season, Indiana is the reigning national champion. They're kings of the college football world, led by their bespectacled and perpetually irritated savior, Curt Cignetti. Before he arrived, Indiana was known for plenty of things—its business school, Hoosiers basketball, Mark Cuban—but not football. Never football. Since Cignetti arrived? Indiana has won a national championship, and its quarterback went first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Not bad for a two-year run. Of course, it took hard work, smart roster building, and a little luck to pull it off. But it also took a shift in attitude. And I think that shift began at Curt Cignetti's introductory press conference. "I win. Google me." Those were the four words Cignetti delivered when asked how he would sell recruits on Indiana. For most coaches, a line like that would become the punchline to a failed experiment—the clip everyone digs up after a disappointing season. For Cignetti, it may one day be engraved beneath a statue if he keeps this up in Bloomington. Today I'm joined by college football expert—and the woman I call the "Smiling Assassin of College Football"—Jess Smetana to revisit that unforgettable press conference. We break down the moment, retrace how Cignetti transformed Indiana into a champion, and ask one question: Does Curt Cignetti have the most “aura” of any college football coach to ever exist?  Welcome to Episode 007 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 2000s, there were three indisputable truths: boy bands were dominating the world, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was must-see TV, and the biggest feud in all of sports belonged to Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza. They hated each other. Roger hated that Mike absolutely owned him at the plate. Mike hated that Roger responded by beaning him in the head. Then, in the 2000 World Series, the Subway Series, it all came to a head. Mike Piazza's bat shattered on a pitch from Roger Clemens. Clemens famously picked up a shard of the bat and hurled it toward Piazza. The result was a staredown for the ages, and the unspoken promise of eventual revenge. The next time Clemens would face the Mets, and have to hit (pitchers used to have to hit in NL games!), was in 2002. Opposing him was Shawn Estes, a man who had certainly witnessed the incident that defined the 2000 World Series but had no dog in the fight. Well, he didn't, until he was forced to. On paper, the Estes-Clemens showdown at Shea looked like a success for Shawn. He won. He hit a home run. But...he missed Roger Clemens with the pitch that was supposed to pacify a rabid Mets fan base that, through bites of Premio sausage and peppers, was screaming unspeakable atrocities at The Rocket. Don't forget, Shea once had to build a roof over the bullpen because fans were throwing batteries at John Rocker. This fanbase didn't mess around. In the end, it was a feud that ended with a muted thud instead of the bang everyone expected. Years later, Shawn Estes tells his side of the story, what it was like to inherit someone else's beef, and the pressure that came with it. Welcome to Episode 006 of REAL DEAL! I'm Tony Reali, and I'm so happy you're here. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s fantasy football time! And here’s a little story… I used to LOVE fantasy football. I ran the league, did the research, made the trades…the whole thing. But I didn't love the person I became every fall. At some point, I realized I couldn't be flipping a coffee table over a fumble. What I do miss is the thrill of finding a diamond in the rough before everyone else. Is there any better feeling than calling a breakout before it happens and looking like a genius? For me, no one embodied that feeling more than Peyton Hillis. His magical 2010 season won fantasy championships, earned him a fan-voted Madden cover, and turned an unlikely running back into a legend. This week, Mike Wright of the Fantasy Footballers joins me to remember fantasy football's greatest surprise heroes, the players you swore lifelong allegiance to after one magical season, and preview the first round of the 2026 fantasy draft with a mock Round 1. Welcome to Episode 005 of REAL DEAL. I'm Tony Reali, and I'm so happy you're here For more from Mike Wright and the Fantasy Footballers: The Fantasy Footballers Podcast - TheFantasyFootballers.com 2026 Ultimate Draft Kit - UltimateDraftKit.com Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You ever put on an outrageous outfit and accidentally turn into a style icon? Me neither, but you’re about to learn that it is in fact possible.  Introducing Scott Player, a former NFL punter whose image still garners more engagement on social media than the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Why, you ask? Because, much like Jason Isbell sang, he was the last of his kind. Well into the 2000s Player rocked a blonde fu manchu and was the last active player in the NFL to have worn a single bar facemask. Also, the facemask was a “convertible,” so most of the time he didn’t even wear it over his face–it hung out down around his chin.  Sounds like a real wild card, right? An 80s Hulk Hogan type. The type of guy who finished a game and then went jet skiing in shark-infested waters with Dennis Rodman and Slash from Guns N’ Roses. Or went bungee jumping with Guy Fieri and Henry Rollins.  I mean, at the very least he sounds like a guy who had a high pain threshold, and wasn’t afraid to have his jaw absolutely demolished in the name of comfort and style.  Today we’re diving in, with Scott, to learn about the man, the career, and the birth of a look that will delight football fans until the end of time.  Was Scott Player’s look the most iconic in NFL History? Welcome to Episode 004 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we do this to ourselves?! I’m talking about sports fandom. The thing most likely to make you cry tears of joy one day, and snap the leg off your coffee table the next. There’s an indescribable bond we have with our teams and our fandom. Even in the bad times, there’s an odd comfort in the fact that the team will still be there, playing an objectively bad version of their sport and breaking your heart. So, again, I ask ya, why do we do this to ourselves?! Is it because fandom creates a culture? You don’t get the surrender cobra, or guys wearing replica championship belts while dressed up as Macho Man, or Taylor Swift friendship bracelets without fandom.  Is it because fandom creates community? Suffering with a fellow fan makes the feeling of breaking a curse and winning a championship that much sweeter. Arguing with that same fan over the direction your team took at the trade deadline can also be fun. It’s like a lower stakes thanksgiving dinner argument with your uncle. Is it because we can measure time with fandom? You may not remember the vacation you took in 2012, but you probably remember your favorite baseball team’s backup catcher. Once you revisit that name, the rest of the details about the year fall into place.  To figure all of this out, I’m bringing in the guys who literally WROTE THE BOOK on fandom, Mike Schur and Joe Posnanski. This episode was funny, enlightening and, I think, got me a little closer to understanding WHY WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES! Welcome to Episode 003 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. I loved reading BIG FAN.  (And since I also got it on audio book, I loved having it read to me!) , Make sure to buy BIG FAN wherever you buy your books https://sites.prh.com/bigfan (This reminds me… Back in the old days, I started a book club at PTI, The Stat Boy Judge Books By Their Cover Book of the Month Club. I came out strong recommending BATTLE ROYALE, by Koushun Takami, a book I judged by its cover! It worked, tremendous book. Not all covers are judge worthy, but man, that one was. Anyways, I lost Wilbon and Kornheiser immediately with that one but endeavor to try again with you.   Expect recommendations of books, shows and multimedia on REAL DEAL. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This past weekend, Argentina, led by Messi, in what could have been his final World Cup appearance, lost to Spain 1-0. It was a crushing loss, one that, understandably, left Messi looking more reflective and appreciative than full of joy. Ok, now let’s rewind to 2022. Messi won the World Cup and, in the midst of his elation, the look on his face shifted from unbridled happiness to perplexed discomfort. The kind of face Curb Your Enthusiasm has made famous over the years. That’s because, in Messi’s biggest moment, surrounded by teammates and being watched by millions around the world, he had his moment stolen by an internet celebrity. Salt Bae, the internet’s most infamous social media chef, grabbed the trophy and somehow made Argentina’s, and Messi’s, World Cup win about himself. Welcome to Episode 002 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Today we’re diving into a moment that felt like a cross between a Mad Lib and a fever dream. Helping us make sense of it all is The Athletic’s Nick Miller, who has covered Messi and his dealings with Salt Bae extensively. It all boils down to one question: Was Salt Bae inserting himself into Messi’s celebration the most hijacked moment in sports history? Let me know what you think in the comments. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday. Watch on YouTube or listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Episode 001 of REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here. Every episode starts with one unforgettable sports moment, and together we relive the feeling to figure out why it still matters. For this first episode, Olympic champion and legendary broadcaster Rowdy Gaines joins me to revisit his unforgettable call of the 2008 Olympic 4x100 freestyle relay, where Jason Lezak chased down Alain Bernard and in the process kept Michael Phelps’ dream of eight gold medals in one Olympic Games alive. The moment still cracks me open. But it also raises a bigger question: Was this the greatest teammate moment in sports history? Let me know what you think in the comments. Subscribe for new episodes of REAL DEAL every Tuesday on YouTube. You can also listen on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.