Heavy Hitter Sports

Jackie Robinson changed baseball and the world for the better when he broke the sport's long-standing color barrier in 1947. Learn about the 10 game-changing  'choices' made by Jackie and his most important allies.  Enjoy listening to Jackie's athletic exploits at UCLA, the Kansas City Monarchs and the Montreal Royals before he arrives at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Learn why Dodger President Branch Rickey selected Robinson to lead the integration charge. And be inspired by Jackie's Dodger heroics, his post-retirement role as a civil rights leader and his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. Jackie is host Mark Hochgesang's choice for most inspirational athlete in sports history because of his unrivaled combination of talent, grit and societal impact. Who's yours? Feel free to reach out to Mark with feedback, questions and requests at mphochgesang@gmail.com. 

The top twenty biggest blunders in sports are highlighted. What do Billy Buckner, Pete Carroll, Zinedine Zidane, Greg Norman, Woody Hayes and Chris Webber have in common? They stumbled when it mattered most. Those caught in the spell of schadenfreude will truly enjoy this episode. Feel free to reach out to the podcast host, Mark Hochgesang, with feedback, questions and requests at mphochgesang@gmail.com. 

Up close and personal with Jake Olson, the first blind athlete to play college football. Jake shares his memories of three pivotal games from his amazing career at USC. He also speaks of his love for golf and his faithful dog Quebec. Jake concludes by talking about his inspirational setback to setup mindset that allowed him to overcome obstacles. And he shares how this type of fortitude and thinking can enable all of us to finding opportunities in adversity. * Jake's first game appearance against Western Michigan (a must see): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvW3zjMGzLY* Shelly Smith's 2015 video profile on Jake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2f0sp4v0bo* Jake showcasing his top-notch golf talent at the Swing for Sight tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3CwzeEXkM4* Jake's Engage company website:  https://www.letsengage.com/about/jake-olsonsYou can contact host Mark Hochgesang at mphochgesang@gmail.com with episode ideas or any other feedback. Thanks. 

Jake shares his battle with cancer that ultimately leads to his total blindness. Undeterred, Jake excels in the classroom and on the field in high school. Ultimately, he gains admittance to USC, his dream school that had previously adopted Jake and his family when it mattered most. The episode concludes with coach Steve Sarkisian inviting Jake to play for the Trojans. Jake's ESPN video clip: https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/27698176Jake's company, Engage: https://www.letsengage.com/about/jake-olsonsJake's book, Open Your Eyes: https://www.amazon.com/Open-Your-Eyes-Uncommon-Discover/dp/1400205816

Jim Morris candidly shares his remarkable journey to become the second oldest rookie in Major League history.  Riddled by nine arm or shoulder surgeries, this high school science teacher & baseball coach from west Texas persevered to make his pro debut at the age of 35. Jim's compelling life story was previously detailed in the heartwarming Disney classic, The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid. Jim now shares inspirational stories from his new book, Dream Makers. You'll love listening to how Jim beat the odds on and off the field to realize his Big Dreams. Enjoy sports fans!Feel free to reach out to the podcast host, Mark Hochgesang, with feedback, questions and requests at mphochgesang@gmail.com. http://www.jimtherookiemorris.com/https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Makers-Surround-Yourself-Best/dp/1682617963