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Plus: Family Sacrifice, and Bill Belichick’s Early Faith in the Young Quarterback. *** Most outlets tell you what to feel. UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review tells you what’s REALLY happening. Subscribe today and join readers who prefer facts over vibes. Subscribe now **** On Tuesday morning, I interviewed New York Times bestselling author Lars Anderson about his new book, “BRADY: An American Story and the Price of Greatness” (Celadon Books, September 29, 2026), focusing on the central question of what Tom Brady was willing to sacrifice to be the best. Anderson discusses the book’s chronological approach, the unexpected global fixation on a Daily Mail excerpt about the Brady–Gisele divorce (which he says wasn’t his intent), and his effort to avoid harming the children. He traces Brady’s childhood insecurities in San Mateo, California, a late start in football at Serra High, his early obsession with film study, and the influence of his father and sisters. We also cover Brady’s Michigan choice, toughness, limited access to Brady for reporting, and Brady’s relationship with Bill Belichick, including Belichick’s early belief in him and key moments around Brady leaving New England. Key Moments Meet Lars Anderson Price of Greatness Theme Brady and Gisele Tradeoffs Divorce Excerpt Media Frenzy Author Perspective on Kids Why Brady Ticks Childhood Scars and Drive Serra High Rough Start Tom, Sr. Influence and Film Study Family Sacrifice and Guilt Same Era Sports Culture Michigan Origins and Pick Six Why Choose Michigan Choosing Michigan Big House Awe Brady Toughness Mindset Underdog Athleticism No Brady Access Birthday Call Story Control And Privacy Tom Versus Time Retirement Pull Could He Return? Good Family Themes Belichick Relationship Belichick Backed Brady Wrap Up And Book Plug **** Sports. Culture. Politics. History. One writer. One voice. No corporate filter. Subscribe to UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review and see why readers keep coming back. Subscribe now **** “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ A fellow like me rarely gets to interview the chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) on his show, let alone get the opportunity in the first place. The statistics say that it is a near-zero probability. The Brian D. O’Leary Show is a relatively small podcast. It’s growing, though we mostly talk about sports on the show these days. Nevertheless, it happened. He came on our show. The guy we had zero chance of booking took time out of his day to join us. On Friday morning, we were fortunate to interview David M. Rubenstein, author of the new book, “INSIDE THE OWNER’S BOX: Conversations on Power and Leadership in Sports” (Simon & Schuster / September 22, 2026). The conversation centered on sports, however. Not foreign policy or politics. Rubenstein is indeed the chairman of the CFR, a prestigious think tank that includes politicians, high-ranking government officials, bankers, lawyers, businessmen, professors, and prominent media figures. To sports fans today, though, he is probably better known as the owner of the Baltimore Orioles, a club in which he bought a controlling interest in 2024. A Baltimore native, Rubenstein said buying the Orioles was a philanthropic gesture to lift up his hometown. This is precisely the type of sports-related traditionalism we champion here on our platform. Local owners. Local interest. Local passion. Real rivalry. Real competition. Cities and communities need something to believe in. When I was growing up in Portland, we believed in the Blazers. “Blazer Believer” signs and t-shirts were ubiquitous in the Rose City during the heyday of the Trail Blazers. We believed. Winning a lot certainly helped, though the Trail Blazers have only won one World Championship. Portland’s love affair with the Blazers was about the people. Not only the players and coaches, but the ownership. Owner Paul Allen was not from Portland. He was from the Seattle area, but he gave Portland a huge gift and a huge lift by buying and investing in its basketball team. The city government never appreciated the gift Allen gave the city and the fans. Perhaps Rubenstein can give Baltimore what Allen gave to Portland. Hopefully the politicos don’t squander the gift like what happened in Portland. Baltimore and Portland have both fallen on hard times thanks to societal unrest, poor leadership, and virtually zero accountability. HBO’s series The Wire showed a side of the Charm City that most Baltimoreans would prefer not to see and certainly don’t care to address. Portland was parodied in the sophomoric Portlandia, starring Saturday Night Live’s Fred Armisen. That series left many longtime Portlanders shaking their collective heads in disgust and bewilderment. “We’re nothing but a punchline,” said many. To be fair, there may have been a chuckle here and there from those who watched on occasion. The producers of Portlandia even had a paid subscriber to UNRELENTING and guest on our show, Dwight Jaynes, guest-star in their program. In Portland, there was also Grimm, an NBC show that yours truly had a bit part in. One scene. One episode. But that show was literally the fairy-tale version of the Rose City. Again, take the shots on goal. You might not put everyone past the goalie, but as Gretzky said, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Fight for your city, your state, your country, if you believe in it at all. Fight for your family. A remnant out there still fights for and has passion for their hometown. At its core, it’s a patriotic instinct. The problems in today’s cities are bigger than money. Solving them requires effort, vision, and passion. Portland has a few patriotic citizens. Some have vision, some have passion, and a few are willing to make the effort. Not enough, however. In Baltimore, David Rubenstein is the man of the hour. He’s trying to turn around the city that he was raised in. His first step was buying a controlling interest in the Orioles in 2024. When Rubenstein grew up, Baltimore was the 9th biggest city in the nation, approaching 1 million residents. It’s a little more than half that size now. For generations now, Baltimore’s biggest export has been its people. In our short interview, Rubenstein and I touched on some important topics. We talked about the Orioles’ history of largely Baltimore-connected owners, the challenges of building a winning franchise, and the disappointment of a recent playoff elimination despite increased payroll, major stadium upgrades, and an injury-plagued 2026 season. Rubenstein explained modern sports ownership structures, including the role of a controlling owner, growing private equity participation through minority stakes, and his firm’s (Carlyle Group) sports investments, including a recent investment in the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. He also addressed my question about the rise of legalized sports gambling, which led to his take on the integrity risks of prop bets, and the need to educate and police players. One takeaway In his book, Rubenstein writes: I am pleased that I made the investment. I think it did—and will—help with the ongoing rejuvenation of Baltimore. I reconnected with my hometown and friends from my youth. I learned more about a sport that I had relished as a boy. And I felt that I was part of a team of professionals trying hard to bring glory back to Baltimore. I hope he is correct. And I hope he is successful. For Baltimore. For sports. For the nation. *** Buy the Book Click the link to buy at Amazon. “INSIDE THE OWNER’S BOX: Conversations on Power and Leadership in Sports” (Simon & Schuster / September 22, 2026). *** About the Episode Chapters ♦ Meet David Rubenstein ♦ Baltimore Roots and Civic Pride ♦ Adley Rutschman Trade and Baseball Fandom ♦ Baltimore Baseball History ♦ Private Equity in Sports ♦ Fans and Community Identity ♦ Sports Gambling and Integrity ♦ Local Owners vs Outsiders ♦ Orioles Season and Next Year ♦ Camden Yards Renovations ♦ Roster Notes and Wrap Up *** About the Guest DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN is an investor, philanthropist, interviewer, author, and historian. He is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private investment firms. Established in 1987, Carlyle now manages around half a trillion dollars from twenty-eight offices around the world. Mr. Rubenstein has served as chairman of the boards of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Duke University, and the Smithsonian Institution. He is a Baltimore native and is the chairman, CEO, and principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles. You’ll also see him hosting The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations on Bloomberg TV and PBS, Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein on Bloomberg TV, Longevity with David Rubenstein on Bloomberg TV, and “America’s Book Club” on C-SPAN. Rubenstein is the author of five books published by Simon & Schuster. *** Support UNRELENTING The globalists bought the politicians, funded the academic economists, and captured the corporate press to sell you out. UNRELENTING is where we punch back. You need this publication because you cannot fight a war if you don’t know who sold you the weapons. The corporate press is paid to pacify you with distractions while the managerial class snuffs out your heritage. Subscribe because we don’t just complain about the decline—we name the architects. We are here to arm you. * * * Jack Callahan, American, ran into a potential UNRELENTING subscriber the other day. “Don’t be a mark,” he said. “The monthly rate is $15.99. The annual is a hundred bucks. Take the yearly deal, save yourself ninety dollars, and fund someone who tells the truth.” Jack is right. Upgrade to the annual paid tier today. Invest in the truth. The annual pass is $100. OLearyReview.com

In our most recent episode of The Brian D. O’Leary Show, we get to the core of how we build and scale businesses. I sat down with my friend Hunter Hastings, a prolific author, economist, venture capitalist, and passionate entrepreneur. We dissected his new book, Venture Mode: Escape the Administration Trap by Finding and Unleashing Entrepreneurial Leaders (co-authored with Mark Packard, published by Amplify Publishing, May 5, 2025), to explore the dangerous traps of corporate growth and how to revive the entrepreneurial spirit. Episode Chapters & Highlights The Administration Trap: Defining the machinery of corporate control, the pressures of financial markets, and how administrative bloat kills productivity. Founder Mode & Brian Chesky: How the Airbnb founder cut through suffocating management layers to get back "in the details" with his customers. The Origins of the MBA: Tracing the roots of administrative sclerosis back to mid-20th-century logical positivism and Frederick Taylor's scientific management. Entrepreneurial Economics: A fresh look at Austrian economics, focusing on customer sovereignty, entrepreneurship, and experimental action over top-down strategy. The Atom of Value: Why the single interaction between a customer and a service provider is the true foundation of scale (with a nod to Netflix's Reed Hastings). AI and One-Person Corporations (OPCs): How AI is allowing entrepreneurs to bypass the administration trap entirely, creating a new era of solo scalability. The Masters of Business Enterprise: Replacing the outdated university MBA with principle-based learning and experiential corporate apprenticeships. The Enablement Economy & Optimism Through Unease: Why being unhappy with the current situation (short-term pessimism) is the fundamental driver of innovation and a better future. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation. The Administration Trap As businesses scale and achieve success, they often fall into what Hunter calls “administration mode.” Instead of prioritizing the innovation that initially drove their growth, companies become obsessed with the machinery of corporate control. This obsession manifests as: An intense focus on controlling future uncertainty. Pressure to deliver smooth quarterly earnings and meet financial market expectations. The addition of suffocating management layers, installed processes, and rigid annual planning cycles. The cost of this control is staggering. Hunter notes that we may have lost 50% of the US economy's potential for productivity growth due to this administrative crisis. It stifles innovation and removes humanity from business, tracing its roots back to mid-20th-century logical positivism, where the “scientific method” and pure measurement began to overshadow human creativity. Breaking Free: Shifting to Venture Mode To escape this trap, Hunter advocates for “venture mode.” A prime example of this philosophy in action is Brian Chesky, founder of Airbnb. As his company grew, Chesky realized that administrative layers were blinding him to the actual customer experience. His solution was to cut through the bureaucracy to get back “in the details,” speaking directly with hosts and consumers to figure out what was working in the market. You don’t have to be a founder to apply this. Anyone in an organization can champion this mindset by removing barriers and prioritizing free-thinking experimentation over rigid systems. Entrepreneurial Economics: The “Atom of Value” Much of our conversation centered around Austrian economics, which Hunter masterfully reframes for the modern business leader. We broke down three practical principles: Customer Sovereignty: The customer is the boss. The business cycle doesn’t start with production; it starts with sensing the customer’s need. Entrepreneurship: This is the act of taking that sensed need, turning it into a novel idea, and bringing it back to the market. Action Over Strategy: True entrepreneurship relies on experimental action rather than relying on a top-down, predictive strategy. This approach zeroes in on what Hunter calls the “atom of value,” the single critical interaction between one customer and one service provider. By perfecting that single interaction, you can scale the entire system. Replacing the MBA and Embracing AI We also tackled the archaic nature of the traditional MBA, something that often breeds the very administrative mindset we need to avoid. Hunter envisions a “Masters of Business Enterprise,” splitting education into two distinct paths: learning scalable principles of value creation outside of traditional universities, and engaging in experiential, active learning within actual corporations. Looking to the future, we discussed the role of Artificial Intelligence in completely bypassing the administration trap. We are seeing the rise of AI-enabled, “One-Person Corporations” (OPCs). By leveraging AI for administrative tasks and tapping into broader industrial ecosystems, individuals can scale incredibly fast without ever installing bloated management structures. Optimism Through Unease I often call myself a short-term pessimist and a long-term optimist. Hunter pointed out that this perfectly aligns with the Austrian economic principle of “unease.” According to Ludwig von Mises, being unhappy with the current situation is the fundamental driver of innovation. It is our unease with administrative bloat that will propel us toward a highly adaptable, highly entrepreneurial future. To dive deeper into this shift toward venture mode thinking, listen to the full episode. Resources & Links: Get a free chapter and pick up a copy of the book at venturemode.biz. Order a copy of Venture Mode directly on Amazon. Read Hunter’s ongoing insights on Venture Mode and the “enablement” economy at The Value Creators on Substack. Step Out of the Machine The ground-floor discount for our premium subscription has closed, but true sovereignty doesn’t sit around waiting on a sale. You can spend the rest of your life as an optimized data point, letting the elite corporate class dictate your values and your income. Or, you can step out of the managed system, embrace the grit, and secure absolute independence for your future. But you cannot do this alone. The digital landscape is littered with lone wolves who thought they could outsmart a system designed to crush them. That is why I built a fortified, paid community for serious minds to discuss culture, business, and strategy in real time. Stop subsidizing the scavengers who hold your values in contempt. 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THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME with author Randall Sullivan What happens when a botched assassination attempt on a president, the “Outfit,” the Great Depression, and the Legend of Babe Ruth collide in Chicago? Author Randall Sullivan reveals how the first so-called “Game of the Century” helped pull America out of its darkest era. Discover the untold history of baseball’s first All-Star Game and the legends that shaped the sport. In 1933, an assassin fired six bullets at President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami. Every single bullet missed FDR, but they fatally struck Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. Out of the political chaos of that assassination, a city’s desperation to escape the shadow of Al Capone’s crime syndicate, and the darkest, most terrifying days of the Great Depression, an unbelievable gamble was born. To save the city’s morale, a new mayor and a sports editor dreamed up the ultimate distraction: the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The Book THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads (Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2, 2026) Summary Brian O’Leary sits down with three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Randall Sullivan to discuss his new book, THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads (Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2, 2026). Sullivan explains that the book was born from his discouragement over modern political polarization, leading him to research how the United States survived the Great Depression. The conversation traces the chain reaction of events that created the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and the first-ever All-Star Game. This includes a Miami assassination attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt that resulted in the death of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. Throughout the episode, we dive into the towering mythos of Babe Ruth, noting that his absence in 1925 caused American League attendance to plummet. We also explore the cultural fallout of the 1919 Black Sox scandal, the iron-fisted rule of Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, and the forgotten legacies of players like Chuck Klein and Lefty O’Doul. Key Takeaways The Origins of the All-Star Game: The 1933 game was staged as a one-off exhibition for the Chicago World’s Fair. It was pitched by sports editor Arch Ward to Mayor Edward Nash to boost morale after Mayor Cermak’s tragic death. Babe Ruth’s Unmatched Stardom: Ruth’s absence due to illness in 1925 caused American League attendance to drop by 34%. Furthermore, he holds the top three WAR (Wins Above Replacement) seasons in Major League history. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of the Ruthian Legend (and reality). The Black Sox Legacy: The 1919 scandal resulted in a complicated trial where players were acquitted by a working-class jury. However, Judge Landis later banned them for life, restoring baseball’s image in the eyes of the outraged American public. Overlooked Baseball Legends: Sullivan argues that Lefty O’Doul deserves Hall of Fame recognition. O’Doul not only hit .398 with 254 hits in a 154-game season, but he was also instrumental in bringing baseball to Japan and in developing it there. Chapters Introduction to Randall Sullivan and his new book, The First All-Star Game. Finding inspiration in America’s resilience during the Great Depression. FDR’s assassination attempt and its connection to the Chicago World’s Fair. The creation of the “Game of the Century” by Arch Ward. Babe Ruth’s towering legacy and massive impact on baseball attendance. The 1919 Black Sox scandal trial and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Unfairly judged players: The forgotten greatness of Chuck Klein. Why Lefty O’Doul deserves a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Final thoughts on the historical significance of the 1933 All-Star Game. Memorable Quotes “If Michael Jordan had been injured in a season, maybe NBA attendance would’ve dropped by 3.4%… but without Babe Ruth, it dropped by 34%.” – Randall Sullivan “I want people to understand… that this was more than a game. And it was more than the inauguration of a tradition. It was a turning point in American history.” – Randall Sullivan Resources Mentioned THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME: Babe Ruth, FDR, and America at the Crossroads (Atlantic Monthly Press, June 2, 2026). By Randall Sullivan The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created. By Jane Leavy The Called Shot: Babe Ruth, the Chicago Cubs, and the Unforgettable Major League Baseball Season of 1932. By Thomas Wolf Baseball in the Roaring Twenties: The Yankees, the Cardinals, and the Captivating 1926 Season. By Thomas Wolf Eight Men Out (1988 Film). Arch: A Promoter, Not a Poet : The Story of Arch Ward. By Thomas B. Littlewood Relevant Content published at UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review Thomas Wolf on The Brian D. O’Leary Show. Discussion on BASEBALL IN THE ROARING TWENTIES. (September 30, 2025) Is this still baseball? How the All-Star Game lost its heart. MLB’s shift toward speed and sponsorship is eroding America’s Game, but fans don’t have to take it lying down (July 15, 2025) What the History Books Scrubbed from the 1927 Yankees. Forget the sanitized myths of the 1927 Yankees. Before Murderer's Row became immortal, they were hot-headed brawlers fueled by bizarre blunders, petty feuds, and a morning diet of warm blood. (October 3, 2025) Cubs Announcer Became President Thanks to Baseball. Before Ronald Reagan saved the free world from Soviet nuclear annihilation, he was a $75-per-week radio announcer recreating Cubs games hundreds of miles from Wrigley Field. (October 4, 2025) How a Utility Infielder Eavesdropped His Way to Oblivion. Fred McMullin (one of the “Eight Men Out”) and the fatal price of the shortcut. (May 19, 2026) Refuse the Sanitized Version of America. Join UNRELENTING. If today’s unvarnished look at baseball's gritty past resonated with you, step into the inner circle. UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review is a relentless defense of our cultural heritage, athletic tradition, and economic independence against elites who seek to sanitize our history. Support the Mission & Enter The Junto Upgrade to a paid subscription to access our private council and unlock our entire historical archive. The Monthly Option ($14.99/month or $100/year): Get unrestricted access to The Junto (our private community for real-time strategy), the Full Vault of locked essays and podcasts, monthly strategic briefs, and our curated reading list. Founding Member ($497/year) — Strictly limited to 20 members: Get all previous benefits, plus four private 1:1 strategy consultations per year to refine your business or copy, and priority access to all future products. Let’s reverse the decline. Upgrade Your Subscription Here: https://briandoleary.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Summary On this episode of The Brian D. O’Leary Show, Brian sits down with David Nugent, co-founder and CEO of Next League, a technology advisory and solutions provider exclusively servicing the sports industry. Dave's latest book is THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS TECHNOLOGY: How to Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward (Sports Business Journal Publishing, April 14, 2026) They discuss the philosophical shifts behind tech deployment, how artificial intelligence is streamlining sports operations, and the cultural decisions that drive how leagues interact with their fans. From the evolving landscape of regional sports networks to the heavy implementation of analytics in global soccer and the PGA Tour, this episode is a deep dive into the business mechanics of the sports world. Subscribe For our regular columns and to never miss a podcast, subscribe to our Substack: Subscribe to UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review Featured Book THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS TECHNOLOGY: How to Make Smart Decisions That Drive Your Organization Forward (Sports Business Journal Publishing, April 14, 2026) Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/4dRBV9z Episode Highlights Fishing on Long Island: Dave shares his background as an avid saltwater fisherman targeting fluke, striped bass, and weakfish on the east end of Long Island. The Philosophy of Sports Tech: Dave’s new book focuses on the organizational philosophy of deploying technology rather than just the technology itself. AI and Efficiency: AI functions like a major paradigm shift, akin to the dawn of Web 1.0 or early streaming. Agentic AI systems are evolving beyond conditional logic to manage themselves and adapt to real-time environmental conditions. Ultimately, AI is replacing menial tasks, allowing employees to focus on their highest and best use within an organization. Sports vs. Big Business: Despite their massive cultural footprint, most sports organizations trail industries like retail and healthcare in tech adoption because they are relatively small businesses. Even the NFL, with revenue approaching $25 billion, is not considered a big company by Fortune 100 standards. Optical Tracking & Analytics: Advanced technology is heavily leveraged on the sports operations side of the business. Organizations use motion capture and tracking on elite soccer players like Lionel Messi to duplicate performance gains and aid in injury prevention. Adoption Cultures: Different organizations navigate technology based on their unique internal cultures. The Masters tightly controls its technology through private partnerships, such as with IBM. Conversely, the NBA embraced early social media virality to grow its audience, viewing it as a rising tide rather than cannibalization. The RSN Crisis: The sports revenue model is currently challenged by the dissolution of regional sports networks. The guaranteed affiliate revenue from traditional cable bundles was significantly higher than what direct-to-consumer models could replace in local markets. Golf’s Tech Revolution: Golf is uniquely positioned to benefit from technology because action happens across 200-plus acres simultaneously. Innovations like the PGA Tour’s ShotLink optically trace the ball within centimeters, leading to features like Every Shot Live, where fans can watch any shot from any player. Adapting for the Future: Ownership dynamics are changing, with private equity and wealthy owners pushing for profit and rule changes. These shifts, such as pitch clocks and larger bases in baseball, are designed to shorten games and attract a younger audience, specifically 18- to 32-year-old fans. They are counting on your complacency. The architects of the engineered decline in both sports and society are betting that you’ll nod along while they sanitize your history, erase the Permanent Things, and rig the economic system entirely in their favor. Every day you accept their managed version of reality is another day they win. But you do not have to play their game. If you are tired of the corporate-approved decline and ready to draw blood, it is time to step inside The Junto. UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review is a relentless defense of the Forgotten American. We champion economic patriotism, uncompromising independence, and the unvarnished truths of our cultural and athletic traditions. When you upgrade to a paid subscription, you stop being a passive consumer and start building real independence outside their rigged system. Choose your level of commitment and unlock: The Junto: Unrestricted access to our private council. This is where unapologetic, serious minds discuss culture, business, and strategy in real time. The Full Vault & Premium Dispatches: Complete access to our securely locked historical archive, members-only essays, and raw audio insights from the field. Strategic Briefs: Monthly Q&A sessions and video breakdowns, tearing down modern cultural and economic mechanics. (Note: Founding Members at $497/year is strictly limited to 20 spots and includes four private, 1:1 strategy consultations to unblock your bottlenecks) Stop accepting the decline. Defend the Permanent Things, build enduring wealth, and strike back. 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Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, yet its origins are shrouded in chaos, and its modern “analytics” are often flawed. ⚽ HOW TO WATCH SOCCER LIKE A GENIUS (Abrams Press, May 12, 2026) by Nick Greene https://amzn.to/4eVb8ve ⚽ Author Nick Greene joins The Brian D. O’Leary Show to dismantle everything you thought you knew about “the beautiful game”. Using insights from architects, stuntwomen, paleoanthropologists, and computer scientists, we tear into the history of soccer’s bizarre early rules and expose why American youth player development is fundamentally broken. Timed with the World Cup coming to North America, this conversation uncovers soccer’s shared roots with American football and rugby, revealing a time when the sport featured fair catches and touchdowns. We dig into how the introduction of the FA Cup forced a standard set of rules, and contrast Scotland’s early tactical advantage through passing with England’s aristocratic refusal to share the ball. We also explore a disastrous 1940s analytics study that set English tactics back decades, the space-warping genius of Lionel Messi, and the absurd limits of modern optimization. Finally, we celebrate, but Greene critiques, the American youth soccer focus on the “battering ram” approach over actual technique. Subscribe at https://OLearyReview.com for more from UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review. Conversation Highlights (Chapters) The World Cup and Unlikely Soccer Experts The Shared DNA of Soccer, Rugby, and American Football Freemasons, Fair Catches, and the FA Cup Scotland’s Passing vs. England’s Selfishness The RAF Pilot Who Ruined English Tactics Why the Best Team Doesn’t Always Win Lionel Messi’s Space-Warping Genius Tottenham’s Showers and the Limits of Analytics Could Shaq Have Revolutionized Soccer? Key Takeaways Shared Roots: Soccer, rugby, and American football share the same origins. Early soccer even featured fair catches and touchdowns. The Forward Pass: Scotland dominated early international soccer by embracing a passing game, while wealthy English players selfishly refused to pass the ball. Bad Math: A flawed 1940s study by a retired RAF pilot convinced English soccer that passing was useless, leading to a long era of “caveman long ball tactics”. Mastering Space: Lionel Messi changes the gravity of the field, often accomplishing more by walking through space than other players do by sprinting. The Battering Ram: American youth soccer prioritizes winning through sheer size, whereas elite global academies focus entirely on technique. Tweetable Quotes “The fact that the best team doesn’t always win is… the most to me, natural human thing about soccer.” - Nick Greene “People who don’t watch or aren’t interested in sports are missing out because it’s such a Rosetta Stone.” - Nick Greene “They’re learning how to be battering rams and kick the ball to the battering ram.” - Nick Greene Resources Mentioned HOW TO WATCH SOCCER LIKE A GENIUS (Abrams Press, May 12, 2026) by Nick Greene: https://amzn.to/4eVb8ve Hoosiers (1986): https://amzn.to/43hOfuS (Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Support the Mission & Enter The Junto For those who refuse the sanitized version of America, the companion publication to our podcast, UNRELENTING – The O’Leary Review, is a relentless defense of the permanent things in our culture. We draw blood from the cosmopolitan elites who are eager to sanitize our history, and we serve as the voice of the Forgotten American. We explore the hidden mechanics of sports and culture to reverse the managed decline that the cultural elites have in mind for all of us. By supporting this mission, you’ll receive our premium monthly “dossiers” and gain access to our private council of battle-hardened patriots and defenders of American culture. Consider upgrading your subscription. Choose your level of commitment: The Monthly Dispatch ($14.99/month or $100/year): Unrestricted access to The Junto for real-time strategy discussions, complete access to The Full Vault of our historical archives, Strategic Briefs featuring monthly Q&A sessions, and a quarterly curated Reading List. Founding Member ($497/year): Strictly limited to 20 members. Includes all Junto benefits, immediate priority access to future products, and four private, 30-minute 1:1 Strategy Sessions per year to break down your business strategy and unblock operational bottlenecks. Join us and change how you see the game at https://OLearyReview.com.

Mark Kurlansky on The Dying Art of Catching Real Fish Guest: Mark Kurlansky We had the great fortune to sit down with Mark Kurlansky, the man who wrote the definitive book on Cod, to discuss his latest release: TO CATCH A FISH (Storey Publishing, March 31, 2026). The Hollywood elite want you to believe fly fishing is a ballet of endless shadow casting. We tear that myth apart. We discuss the reality behind the movie A River Runs Through It. The beautiful, looping casts you see on screen will leave you tangled in a mess of your own line. This leads directly to O’Leary’s First Law of Fly Fishing: “Thou cannot cast thyself out of a tangle.” We also confront the grim reality of the Atlantic salmon. The corporate food complex wants you to believe the salmon at your local market is wild. It is farmed. The authentic, wild Atlantic salmon are vanishing across North America and Europe. Mark shares his rare experience of landing one in Scotland. Additionally, we briefly discuss the history of baseball in the Dominican Republic, drawing on Mark’s brilliant book Eastern Stars, and, later, the listener discovers why women may be rapidly taking over the fly fishing demographic. Key Takeaways: The 30-year anniversary edition of Cod is on the horizon. Why fly fishing is the ultimate battle of wits against an animal with a brain the size of a pencil eraser. Why A River Runs Through It teaches you the “why” of fly fishing, but completely ruins the “how”. The rise of women in the fly fishing world and how they are changing the sport. *** About the author: Mark Kurlansky is a former commercial fisherman, journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Cod, Salt, The Big Oyster, and dozens of other books of fiction and non-fiction. He’s won numerous awards, including the James A. Beard Award, ALA Notable Book Award, and New York Public Library Best Books of the Year Award, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Audubon Magazine, Food & Wine, The Los Angeles Times, and more. He lives with his wife and daughter in New York City and Gloucester, Massachusetts. *** Links: · TO CATCH A FISH: Essays on the Joy, Frustration, Curiosity, and Allure of Fishing https://amzn.to/4bHUugF · Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World https://amzn.to/4s5arCg · The Eastern Stars: How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris https://amzn.to/3PVeWlz *** You survived another episode. Now do something with it. If you are ready to stop playing small and build a business that hits back, grab one of my two remaining $297 Platform Domination Consults for April. Go to BrianDOLeary.com/domination I will see you on the inside.

Guest: Keith O'Brien, author of HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and The Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, March 3, 2026) https://amzn.to/47ghvEE Podcast Release Date: March 7, 2026 Episode Length: 42 minutes *** EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Larry Bird is one of basketball's all-time greats, but there's a chapter of his story that's rarely told. Between 1974 and 1979, from his brief time at Indiana University through his magical season at Indiana State, Bird nearly walked away from basketball entirely. In this episode, Brian O'Leary sits down with journalist and New York Times best-selling author Keith O'Brien to discuss his meticulously researched new book HEARTLAND, which fills in this forgotten narrative with unprecedented detail. Through interviews with teammates, coaches, photographers, and dozens of people who were there, O'Brien paints a vivid portrait of a shy kid from rural Indiana who changed sports history—even though he never wanted the spotlight. We discuss Bird's poverty-stricken upbringing in French Lick, his time as a garbage collector, his legendary media boycott, the iconic Sports Illustrated photo shoot, and even a softball tournament in which he beat Joe Montana. This is Larry Bird like you've never heard him before. *** TIMESTAMPS: [0:00] Introduction and Sports Illustrated covers [7:38] Keith's journalism career: Salem to Boston Globe [10:21] Why Bird left Indiana University after just weeks [12:30] Bird's $75 arrival at IU and feeling out of place [14:27] Working as a garbage collector in French Lick [16:34] How Heartland reads like a novel [19:01] Writing the book without Larry's participation [20:23] Bird's famous media boycott throughout college [23:10] The legendary Sports Illustrated photo shoot (October 1977) [27:30] Lane Stewart's struggle to photograph Bird [28:46] The softball tournament: Bird vs. Joe Montana [30:49] Bird playing baseball AFTER the 1979 championship game [33:40] The 3-3 release date and Bird's #33 jersey [34:25] The lasting impact on Bird's teammates [37:07] Where to find Keith's work and buy the book *** KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED: Larry Bird's brief, unhappy time at Indiana University under Bob Knight Bird's return to French Lick and work as a municipal worker The industrial league basketball that nearly became his final chapter Indiana State's improbable 1978-79 undefeated season The 1979 NCAA Championship: Bird vs. Magic Johnson Bird's lifelong aversion to media attention The Sports Illustrated cover that changed everything Bird's love of softball and baseball The ripple effects of the Bird-Magic rivalry on the NBA How the 1979 Indiana State team still feels the impact today *** GUEST BIO: Keith O'Brien is a journalist and New York Times best-selling author whose previous books include Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose. He has worked for newspapers, including the Boston Globe, and has contributed to NPR and various magazines. He specializes in narrative nonfiction and long-form storytelling. *** BOOK INFORMATION: HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and The Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, March 3, 2026) Purchase Links: https://amzn.to/47ghvEE Author Website: https://keithob.com *** CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: 🌐 Website: BrianDOLeary.com 📧 Substack: @BrianDOLeary 🐦 X/Twitter: @BrianDOLeary 📺 YouTube: @BrianDOLeary 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Fountain, and everywhere podcasts are available 💡 Looking to make money on Substack? Check out Your Substack Success Blueprint at OLearyWriters.com — Use code EMAIL for $27 off! *** CREDITS: Host: Brian D. O'Leary Guest: Keith O'Brien Production: O’Leary Digital Your sanctuary for serious content in an unserious culture.

Brian O’Leary interviews author Monte Burke about his book MEN OF TROY: The Epic Afternoons, Wild Nights, and Enduring Legacy of Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans (Grand Central Publishing, published January 13, 2026). Burke traces his own path into college football and writing, contrasts the atmosphere of college football with the NFL, and explains why coaches like Carroll and Nick Saban make compelling subjects. We discuss USC’s unique Los Angeles moment with celebrity-laced practices, the program’s rise under Carroll, and how the Reggie Bush scandal exposed flaws in college football’s amateurism model and helped foreshadow NIL-era changes, while sanctions punished players like Matt Barkley who had no role in violations. The conversation revisits defining games (the “Bush Push” and the Texas title loss), Carroll’s coaching style and staff, Pac-10 ripple effects, and ends with Carroll’s fishing life and Burke’s favorite fisheries. *** Buy MEN OF TROY at Amazon: https://amzn.to/47p8Mjs Find Monte Burke: https://www.monteburke.com/ *** Segments: Meet Monte Burke Growing Up With Football Why College Saturdays Rule From Saban to Carroll USC Takes Over LA Modern Era and Amateurism Reggie Bush and NIL Shift Sanctions Fallout on Players Inside Pete Carroll Interviews NCAA Politics and USC Anger Party Culture Backfires Agents Invade Heritage Hall Six Inches From Immortality Reggie Missing On Fourth Down Pete Carroll Defends The Call Carroll Legacy In Shadow Recreating Iconic Games USC Rivals And Pac-10 Shift Coaching Tree And Lane Kiffin Kiffin Pressure And Enemies Trout Fishing And Calming Down Raiders Job And Roster Reality Angling Talk And Farewell *** Find Brian D. O’Leary: 𝕏: https://x.com/briandoleary YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@briandoleary Substack: https://briandoleary.substack.com/

In the latest episode of The Brian D. O’Leary show, we sat down with Yaron Weitzman in a wide-ranging interview that dove into the modern Lakers dynasty, the lasting imprint of the Buss family, and the evolving career of LeBron James. *** Featured Guest Yaron Weitzman: Author, NBA journalist, and insider on all things basketball, discussing his new Lakers book and the deeper drama surrounding LeBron, the Buss family, and team culture. Find Yaron on social media: · X/Twitter (@YaronWeitzman) · Instagram (@yaronweitzman) · TikTok (@yaronweitzman) *** Books Mentioned A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers (Doubleday, October 21, 2025) | Yaron Weitzman | A behind-the-scenes account of the recent Lakers’ journey, focusing on the politics, personalities, and tensions that have shaped the LeBron-era Lakers. Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sports | Yaron Weitzman | A deep dive into the inner workings of "The Process," chronicling how the 76ers undertook an unapologetic rebuild to become a contender. Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP | Mirin Fader | A New York Times Bestseller tracing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s journey from poverty in Greece to world stardom—a nuanced look at his off-court and on-court evolution. Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks | Chris Herring | The definitive story of Pat Riley’s Knicks—physical, controversial, beloved, and often chaotic throughout the NBA’s golden era. Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty | Jeff Pearlman | The inside story of the Lakers’ 1996–2004 dynasty, documenting the unforgettable drama and cultural change led by Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson. I do not recommend any of Pearlman’s work, as I believe him to be a disingenuous, sanctimonious jerk … Oh, and a liar. But I’m dutifully giving you the resources. –BO’L *** Key News Stories Discussed The Luka Doncic Trade to the Lakers (February 2025): Lakers landed Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris in a three-team blockbuster trade, sending Anthony Davis to the Mavericks—a move that shifted the balance of power in the West. For full details and quotes from both the Lakers and Mavericks front offices: See ESPN: “Luka Doncic to Lakers, Anthony Davis to Mavs in 3-team trade” (February 2025). https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43659380/sources-mavericks-trading-doncic-lakers-anthony-davis Dallas Mavericks Fire GM Nico Harrison (November 2025): Following the controversial Luka trade and mounting pressure from fans, the Mavericks fired GM Nico Harrison at a dramatic team meeting. For the backstory, front-office statements, and Harrison’s reasoning at the time of the trade: See ESPN: “Mavericks fire GM Nico Harrison amid continued fan angst” (November 2025). https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46928742/sources-mavericks-expected-fire-general-manager-nico-harrison *** Chael Sonnen on LeBron – The "Same Guy" Allegation Viral Video/Podcast Segment: Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen claimed on the Flagrant 2 podcast that he and LeBron James “have the same drug guy.” Sonnen alleged LeBron uses EPO and other PEDs, a claim that’s made waves online but is unsupported by any formal evidence or NBA violations to date. For the podcast segment, see: https://x.com/MavsStan41/status/1633276225442521088? also … https://heavy.com/sports/nba/los-angeles-lakers/shocking-claims-about-lakers-lebron-james-revealed/ *** If you have a Substack or want to get started on that platform, I just put together a 31-page guide about how to do it. Properly. It’s called Your Substack Success Blueprint. We talk about Magic Johnson in this podcast, so to pay homage to one of the game’s true greats, the first 32 people to buy Your Substack Success Blueprint will get a sweet $32 discount. Use code SUBSTACK at checkout. Deal expires after the first 32 purchases, or at the end of the calendar year, whichever comes first. https://briandoleary.gumroad.com/l/blueprint/ *** For press, sponsorship, or guest inquiries, contact brian at briandoleary dot com (you know the drill…).

Ken Belson on How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Built the NFL's $10 Billion Empire EPISODE OVERVIEW In this compelling deep-dive conversation, Brian D. O'Leary sits down with Ken Belson, New York Times sportswriter and author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the NFL into a Cultural and Economic Juggernaut (Grand Central Publishing, October 14, 2025). This wide-ranging interview explores the transformation of the NFL from a beloved sporting league into a ten-billion-dollar cultural phenomenon. Belson reveals the untold stories behind the three most influential figures in modern football history, their business strategies, their political maneuvering, and the existential threats now facing America's most powerful sports league. Runtime: Approximately 46 minutes Release Date: October 27, 2025 Guest: Ken Belson, New York Times Sports Business Correspondent and author of Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the NFL into a Cultural and Economic Juggernaut (Grand Central Publishing, October 14, 2025) WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The Modern NFL's Foundation (1993-Present) Why 1993's labor agreement—not a Super Bowl or dynasty—marks the true beginning of the modern NFL How free agency, salary caps, and 50-50 revenue sharing created unprecedented labor peace The pivotal role of Steelers owner Dan Rooney and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen in shaping the league's economics Jerry Jones: The Relentless Salesman How Jones "taught the NFL how to sell" despite alienating fellow owners The Rupert Murdoch deal that transformed television economics forever Robert Kraft's assessment: Jerry can "charm a dog off a meat truck" Why Jones doesn't chase money—he chases the chase The "Cowboys peanut butter" philosophy: monetizing everything not nailed down Robert Kraft: The Real Estate Wizard The brilliant 7-year strategy to acquire the New England Patriots How Kraft bought parking lots, then the stadium, then finally the team—leaving owners with nothing Why Connecticut and Providence offered sweetheart deals, but Kraft stayed in Foxborough Patriot Place: The revolutionary stadium-as-real-estate-development model How Kraft's unshared revenue strategy changed sports franchises forever Roger Goodell: The Senator's Son Goodell's childhood ambition letter: "I want to be NFL Commissioner" The political instincts he absorbed from his U.S. Senator father Why some NFL staffers called him "too nakedly ambitious" Goodell's strategy: schmoozing with owners at every opportunity Why can't he find his own replacement (or won't step down)? Prediction: The next commissioner will be a media expert, not a football insider Bill Belichick & The Jets Resignation The Leon Hess succession crisis that drove Belichick away from New York Was there tampering between Kraft and Belichick? The evidence examined Why Paul Tagliabue warned teams to "tread carefully" with Belichick The compensatory draft picks the Jets received—and why they got the short end The Los Angeles Stadium Saga Inside the 2016 Houston meeting, where Jerry Jones lobbied relentlessly for Stan Kroenke's vision Why the Rams-only bid beat the dual Raiders-Chargers proposal Paul Allen's rare appearance—and how "The Oracle" swung critical votes Jerry Jones, celebrating with a tumbler of scotch: "He's the salesman. He got his catch that day." How the NFL turned two stadium problems into one world-class solution Gambling's Stranglehold on Sports Why Jones and Kraft invested in gambling platforms before legalization How the NFL profits from sponsorships and game data sales—not direct gambling revenue The disturbing shift: from communal Sunday football to atomized, real-time phone betting "The book always wins. The sportsbook's going to win. Now you've got people pissed at the NFL." Brian's fear: economic downturns + player financial struggles = integrity crises The Cleveland baseball team scandal, Jontay Porter's lifetime ban, and the NCAA's dangerous new policy Why allowing college athletes to bet on football is "streamlining the pipeline from amateur athletics to federal indictment" The Future of the NFL Why 97% of NFL fans never attend a game—and what that means for the league's priorities "Fans in the stadium are essentially props for TV broadcasts" The COVID revelation: Cardboard cutouts worked fine. Do stadiums even matter? Cable TV's death and streaming's fragmentation: How will fans afford to watch? The NFL's challenge: squeezing every penny without breaking fan loyalty KEY QUOTES On Jerry Jones: "Jerry taught us how to sell." — Carmen Policy, former 49ers President On Robert Kraft: "He could charm a dog off a meat truck." — Robert Kraft on Jerry Jones On Gambling: "We went from sitting down with your dad with a clicker, maybe a can of beer, your jersey on, and you watched for three hours. You watched a drama, basically. Now you're betting on a tight end you don't care about because he's on your fantasy roster. Well then you add money to it, and it really amplifies the tension." "The book always wins. The sportsbook's going to win—more chances than not. So now you got people pissed at the NFL or pissed at a player or a team." On Roger Goodell's Future: "My suspicion is that it'll be a media person. That's where the league is now. Two-thirds of its revenue comes from media and sponsorships, not from tickets and beer." On Fans: "Roger likes to say that 97% of NFL fans never go to a game. The fans in the stadium now are essentially props for TV broadcasts." TOPICS/CHAPTERS Introduction & Book Overview Why 1993? The Labor Deal That Changed Everything Jerry Jones: The Man Who Brought Rupert Murdoch to the NFL Robert Kraft's Brilliant Patriots Acquisition Strategy Patriot Place & The Real Estate Revolution Roger Goodell's Path: From Senator's Son to Commissioner Bill Belichick's "I Resign as HC of the NYJ" Napkin Moment The 2016 Los Angeles Stadium Decision: Jerry Jones vs. Jerry Richardson Gambling's Corrosive Effect on Sports Integrity The Future of NFL Leadership & Media Fragmentation Closing Thoughts ABOUT THE GUEST Ken Belson is a sports business correspondent for The New York Times, where he has covered the NFL, sports economics, and major league developments for over a decade. His latest book, Every Day Is Sunday, is an Amazon #1 bestseller and chronicles the transformation of the NFL into the most powerful sports league in American history. Belson's reporting combines insider access, rigorous research, and a business-focused lens that reveals the economic machinery behind America's most-watched sport. RESOURCES & LINKS Order the Book: Every Day Is Sunday on Amazon Connect with Brian D. O'Leary: Substack: OLearyLetter.com Twitter/X: @BrianDOLeary YouTube: @BrianDOLeary Follow Ken Belson: The New York Times: Author Page EPISODE TAGS NFL #JerryJones #RobertKraft #RogerGoodell #KenBelson #SportsGambling #NFLHistory #DallasCowboys #NewEnglandPatriots #BillBelichick #SportsBusiness #MediaRights #StadiumDeals #LosAngelesRams #SportsIntegrity #FantasyFootball #NewYorkTimes #BrianDOLeary #TheBrianDOLearyShow LISTENER NOTE This episode contains candid discussion about sports gambling, league corruption, and the business practices that have fundamentally altered how Americans consume professional football. If you care about the intersection of billion-dollar industries, civic life, and the future of American sports culture, this conversation is essential listening. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share with fellow sports fans who want serious content in an unserious culture. The Brian D. O'Leary Show: Your sanctuary for serious content in an unserious culture.

BASEBALL IN THE ROARING TWENTIES: The Yankees, the Cardinals, and the Captivating 1926 Season by Thomas Wolf (University of Nebraska Press, September 1, 2025) Quick recap The discussion between Brian and Tom Wolf centered on Wolf's new book about the 1926 baseball season, which explored notable players like Babe Ruth and the competitive dynamics between teams that year. The conversation delved into the broader sports landscape of the 1920s, including the rise of different sports and the challenges faced by black baseball players during this era. The discussion concluded with an examination of key figures in baseball history, including Rube Foster's role in forming the Negro Leagues and the alleged scandal involving Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker. 1926 Baseball Season Highlights Tom Wolf discussed his new book, BASEBALL IN THE ROARING TWENTIES, focusing on the 1926 season, which he selected for research related to his previous book, The Called Shot: Babe Ruth, the Chicago Cubs, and the Unforgettable Major League Baseball Season of 1932 (Nebraska, 2020). He highlighted the compelling nature of the 1926 season, which featured notable players like Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby, and explored their rivalry despite never playing against each other in the same league. Tom noted that the season's dynamics, including the Yankees' and Cardinals' intense competition, made it particularly interesting. The discussion focused on the 1926 baseball season, particularly the dramatic career turnaround of Babe Ruth, who went from a poor 1925 season to lead the Yankees to first place in 1926, marking the beginning of his second-half career dominance. The conversation also explored the broader context of 1920s sports, including the rise of college football, boxing, and horse racing, as well as the emergence of the Negro Leagues and the challenges faced by black baseball players during that era. The discussion highlighted how the Black Sox scandal and Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis's opposition to integration effectively halted the progress toward racial integration in baseball, despite early efforts by managers like John McGraw and Connie Mack to sign black players. Rube Foster's Vision for Integration The discussion focused on Rube Foster, a pivotal figure in the formation of the Negro Leagues in 1920, and his vision for integrating baseball. Foster's health crisis in 1926 led to his decline and eventual death. Still, his legacy includes the first colored World Series in 1924 and an 11-game World Series between the Chicago American Giants and the Atlantic City Giants. The conversation explored Foster's ultimate goal of integrating the major leagues, which began to happen with Jackie Robinson in 1948, and his proposal for exhibition games between Negro League teams and Major League teams, which was rejected by MLB owners concerned about the impact of integration on their bottom line. 1919 Black Sox Scandal Investigation Brian and Tom discussed the alleged scandal involving Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, which Dutch Leonard claimed was a fixed game in 1919. They explored the history of the scandal, including Cobb and Speaker's retirements under pressure from Commissioner Landis, as well as the $20,000 in hush money paid to Leonard by Ban Johnson. The conversation highlighted the complex relationships and power dynamics between baseball executives and players during this period. 1926 Baseball Rivalry Insights The discussion turned to the rivalry between the American League and the National League. Tom and Brian explored the careers of several legendary players, the 1927 Yankees' dominance, and Babe Ruth's controversial stolen base attempt in the 1926 World Series. They also discussed the different styles and strategies of the two leagues, emphasizing the historical significance of the World Series when the leagues were more distinct in their approaches. # # # Ready for insights reserved for serious listeners only? Subscribe now and join thousands of readers who've discovered why Brian O'Leary's perspective is reshaping how thoughtful Americans understand our culture. Visit BrianDOLeary.Substack.com for exclusive written analysis and premium subscriber benefits. @BrianDOLeary on the Fountain App, 𝕏–Twitter, Substack, and YouTube. # # # Links Books by Thomas Wolf: The Called Shot: Babe Ruth, the Chicago Cubs, and the Unforgettable Major League Baseball Season of 1932 (Nebraska, 2020) https://amzn.to/4nDu0Qv BASEBALL IN THE ROARING TWENTIES: The Yankees, the Cardinals, and the Captivating 1926 Season by Thomas Wolf (University of Nebraska Press, September 1, 2025) https://amzn.to/4msYLGF *** *** *** Disclaimer: “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

In the latest episode of the Brian D. O'Leary Show, Jim Murphy, the author of the bestselling book INNER EXCELLENCE: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance in the Best Possible Life, discusses the widespread impact and philosophy behind his work. Highlighting how NFL star AJ Brown benefited from Inner Excellence's teachings during critical games, Murphy elaborates on the book's core system that promotes being fully present and mastering self for extraordinary performance. He compares his concepts to those popularized by James Clear in Atomic Habits, emphasizing the importance of redefining success and learning from perceived failures. Murphy draws from his rich background as a former professional baseball player and coach, sharing personal anecdotes and experiences that shaped his understanding of sports psychology and human behavior. He emphasizes the importance of emotional stability, adaptability, and self-mastery both in sports and life. With his heartfelt insights and practical advice, Jim Murphy offers listeners the tools to navigate their lives with clarity, purpose, and resilience. Find INNER EXCELLENCE: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life (Grand Central Publishing, April 29, 2025) at https://briandoleary.com/innerexcellence

After a long delay in production … Brian hosts Scott Fischbuch, a Jungian Typology expert, for an in-depth conversation on personality types and his methods. Scott explains his approach to personality typing, which involves analyzing preferences in conversation, turns of phrase, and behavioral mannerisms. Brian shares his journey into podcasting and reflects on how his personality type has evolved. Scott identifies Brian's personality type as ISTJ and explains the significance of introverted sensing and extraverted intuition. They discuss the impact of cultural influences on personality and the importance of effort and team dynamics in professional and personal settings. The episode touches on the nuances of effective communication and the role of empathy and sympathy in understanding others. Scott's site: ToolsWithScott.com Brian O'Leary – BrianDOLeary.com @BrianDOLeary on 𝕏–Twitter @BrianDOLeary on YouTube BrianDOLeary on Substack

Website re-launch: https://briandoleary.com Los Gatos Review (quarterly magazine): https://losgatosreview.com The O'Leary Letter: http://OLearyLetter.com O'Leary's Laws O'Leary's First Law: Nice is not a virtue. O'Leary's Second Law: You can't cast yourself out of a tangle. O'Leary's Third Law: While apologies are often necessary or appropriate, never should you have to explain yourself, particularly for something you believe and are not sorry for.