Named Sporting News Manager of the Year with the Pirates, CLINT HURDLE took a team, its loyal Pittsburgh fan base and energized them enough to make the playoffs. This is a team that struggled for almost two decades.

You start as a manager in the Mets organization and work, and work, and work your way up through the minors until you catch on with Colorado and their hitting coach. The rest, including the fire, the passion and the love for the game, is well documented.

Now, his quips, daily motivational thoughts and his wisdom are captured in his new book HURDLE-ISMS, which is now on sale. And we have the joy of talking about it all on this episode of The Approach Shot.

What was it like in the New England Patriots' locker room at halftime of Super Bowl 51, with the Pats losing 21-3, and having played their worst of half of football all season?

What could possibly have been said to motivate them to overcome a 25 point deficit and make the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime 34-28?

You may be surprised, and CHRIS HOGAN, one of the Pats' wide receivers tells that story; his personal stories of grit, determination and how every NO was turned into "eye opening experiences".

So much to hear from CHRIS HOGAN on this episode of The Approach Shot.

He describes himself as a "science project", an athlete with all of the tools and the success that goes with it, but the injuries that kept him from "next level" success.

JIMMY NELSON, the starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers who finished 9th in the Cy Young voting in 2017, the same pitcher who pitched 177, 179 and 175 innings respectively in 2015, 16 and 17 battled injuries his entire career. He then reinvented himself as a reliever for the LA Dodgers with 44 strikeouts in 29 innings in 2021.

He pitched for 10 years in the majors, but had 6 surgeries and rehabbed for 7 years.
He shares the pains, the ups and downs and how the journey created the mental toughness needed to get through it all, on this episode of The Approach Shot.

What does a former NFL All Pro, who led the NFC in receptions do after he hangs 'em up? Well he literally offers his golf services for charity events, is President and CFO of a successful clothing company and (fortunately for us) stops by to talk about it all.

The charming, hilarious and thoughtful Frank Sanders is our guest on the latest episode of The Approach Shot.

It’s 2025! Our first new episode in the New Year is one of our favorites! Long time MLB pitcher Scott Feldman, who pitched in the majors for 13 years is our guest and together we wish everyone “Shalomha”! As the only Hawaiian-born Jewish player to ever play in the big leagues, interestingly Shalom and Aloha both mean “hello”, “goodbye” and “peace” in their respective tongues. So why not start the New Year with a new word? It’s just part of the fun we had with Felds talking baseball and golf!

He loves golf almost as much as he loves hitting a WR across the middle. His love for Missouri is only matched by his love for his adopted home- Atlanta. An All Star for the St. Louis Cardinals and a Pro Bowl (alternate) for the Atlanta Falcons, Brian Jordan's excellence didn't care which sport he played (though he admits to loving the contact of hitting a wide receiver over the middle more than hitting a home run).

These days his love for Atlanta extends to his Brian Jordan Foundation which provides scholarships for deserving students.

And when he talks about his annual Brian Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament, his pride lit up the room.
BRIAN JORDAN is our guest on this fun-filled episode of The Approach Shot

If you vacation in Canada and want to have people buy you a Molson, mention Ernie Whitt's name. He is practically royalty in Canada, a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and a beloved All Star catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.
In fact, he was the last "original" member of the Jays, having been drafted by the Red Sox, but the Blue Jays took him in the expansion draft, as he was the anchor of the team for a decade. His power at the plate and his defensive prowess behind the plate made him one of MLB's great players from 1975-1991.
And man, does he love talking golf!
Ernie Whitt is our guest on this week's episode of The Approach Shot.

What a way to wrap up 2024! Nothing like having a conversation with a member of the 1986 Miracle Mets and a WORLD SERIES CHAMPION.
WALLY BACKMAN is our guest on this episode of The Approach Shot and yes, he was part of the team that broke the Red Sox faithful's hearts. He too, watched Mookie Wilson's ball go under Bill Buckner's glove, but has a different perspective on that play and others.
He also gave back so much to the game he loves by managing in the Minor Leagues and was able to impart wisdom and fire in his players. That love and fire also exist in his golf game and we enjoyed every second of our conversation with WALLY BACKMAN!
Have a listen!