Tbt Podcast

Allan Cunanan of West Coast Ronin and Nolan T. Jones of 7Outz join TBT to talk about their teams in advance of the West Regional.

Bryan Hurley (HBC) and Jason Caldwell (NC Prodigal Sons) join TBT as we continue our series exploring the 64 teams who will compete for the $2,000,000 winner takes all grand prize this summer.

Learn more about two teams in TBT 2016's South Region! Kyle Callanan (OPI) and Terell Smith (Primetime Players) join TBT to talk about their squads and their expectations entering the tournament.

Ray Chang (Talladega Knights) and Mark Moore (Canton Bulldogs) join TBT to talk about their teams, their experiences in basketball, and what to expect from their squads in TBT 2016.

A DMV native, Michael Sweetney was living the life of his dreams. He starred on the court for his dream college, Georgetown, and parlayed his collegiate success into the NBA Lottery, where the New York Knicks made the 6’9” PF/C the 9th pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. But, the death of his father sent Sweetney into what he now recognizes was a deep depression. Years of struggles, including a period in which he slept in his car, have given way to a new understanding of himself and a new approach to life. A father of three, Sweetney credits his coach, Joe Connelly, with saving his life, and a fateful trip to Uruguay with helping him come to terms with the loss of his father. An easy guy to root for, Sweetney is looking forward to suiting up again with City of Gods this summer and making another run at TBT glory.

A native of Philadelphia who grew up a Villanova fan, Ronald Moore has gone from under-recruited high school point guard to NCAA tournament hero to established overseas professional in 10 years. A two-time participant in TBT, Moore, along with former Siena College teammates Kenny Hasbrouck, Ryan Rossiter, and OD Anosike, is now looking to add TBT Champion to his ever-growing resume. With a squad that will feature former Sixer and NBA veteran John Salmons (Moore’s cousin), former St. Joe’s stars CJ Aiken and Garrett Williamson, as well as Temple standout Ryan Brooks, Moore and the Liberty Ballers look like a good bet to improve upon last year’s run to the round of 16, even in a loaded Northeast Region. With the support of the Liberty Ballers 76ers-focused blog and a legion of friends and family from the Philadelphia-area, Moore’s Liberty Ballers are sure to draw attention both online and on-site when TBT opens up play at Philadelphia University on July 9th and 10th.

Controversial, but endlessly fascinating, Marshall Henderson is a player who definitely feeds off the energy of a riled up crowd. On this episode, we talk to Henderson about what his life is like a couple years removed from Ole Miss, some of the controversies that have embroiled him, the infamous Michael Sam tweet, and what he’s doing to make himself the best player, and person, he can be.

John Oates, a Boston College graduate, joins TBT to discuss Skinner's Frate Train, a team of BC alums playing in support of their classmate, Pete Frates, and former coach, Al Skinner. Frates, a BC baseball player and a college roommate of SF Sean Marshall, was diagnosed with ALS in 2012 and has been working ever since to raise awareness and money for finding a cure for this terrible disease. Having inspired the Ice Bucket Challenge, Frates is also a primary inspiration for this reunion of some of the best basketball players Boston College has ever produced. Oates, now the Senior Director of Social Media for the Dr. Oz Show in New York, talks candidly here about his time at BC, getting back together with his college teammates, and the best Hall & Oates related heckling he ever got.

From Fan to Booster to TBT insider. Josh Brown showed up 3 hours before the 2014 Championship Game in Boston to cheer on Team Barstool. Getting into arena early, grabbing a front row seat, and screaming his voice hoarse, Brown was hooked. As a Booster for the Jabroni Project in 2015, Brown experienced first-hand what it's like to try to qualify and compete in TBT. In 2016, he's gotten an even closer look behind the scenes of TBT, working with the crew on digital content and a whole slew of other things. Brown joins TBT now to share his unique perspective on this unique event.

TBT adviser and former head of Anheuser-Busch Global Marketing Tony Ponturo joins TBT to discuss his experiences working in the sports industry, his take on where the sports sponsorship industry is now and where it's going, and how great it feels as a Villanova grad to watch his team win a national championship.

Vin Martelli, a TBT founder/adviser, joins us to talk about the origins of TBT, how his own athletic career impacts his views on sports, and where he sees TBT going in the future.

TBT's Andy Dolich joins us to discuss what attracted him to the project after four decades of working in the sports industry. A veteran front-office man for every big league sport you can imagine, Dolich brings a lifetime's experience and a fresh perspective to TBT behind the scenes.

TBT Superfans Brian Kunis and Vince PeGan, roommates in New York City and early adopters, signed up as fans in March of 2014. Kunis and PeGan join TBT to discuss why they're interested in TBT, why they buy all the gear, and what it's like to root on your team knowing that you've got money on the line, too.

TBT's Jesse Leeds joins us to share some of the rumors and inside information he's hearing about teams that could be making a run at TBT 2016's $2,000,000 winner takes all grand prize.

Mike Illiano, GM of Team 23, the runner up in TBT 2015, joins us to discuss what he felt like after losing the Championship Game last year, and what he's doing to get his team ready for another run at TBT glory in 2016. Down, but never out, Team 23 looks poised to return with a squad primed to make another deep run in TBT.

Jason Curry, CEO of Big Apple Basketball, an NYC-based non-profit, joins TBT to talk about his experience entering a team in two TBT's. A semifinalist in 2014, BAB returned in 2015 and played two thrilling games before bowing out to the Northeast's Cinderella, Sideline Cancer. A former point guard at St. Michael's, Curry and Big Apple Basketball are fixtures on the New York City summer basketball circuit and Jason shares a lot of insight into the state of the game in the big city.

TBT made some big announcements this week, so, we're checking in with the Founder and CEO, Jon Mugar. With a $2,000,000 winner-takes-all grand prize and an unprecedented $200,000 (10%) of that prize going to the top fans of the winning team, there's a lot to discuss!

After nearly winning TBT's inaugural Championship in 2014 with Team Barstool, Matt Walsh returned for another run in 2015 with a SLAM Magazine team. Unfortunately for the former Florida Gator and Philly native, there would be no repeat of 2014's success, as the team fell to One Chicago in its first game. The loss stings Walsh, but does not deter him. Although he led the Turkish SuperLig in scoring in '14/'15 and made the All-Star team, Walsh retired from the international game and is now settling into life in commercial real estate. Still competitive and keeping himself in top shape, Walsh will be back in TBT 2016. Expect him to continue the alliance he's formed with Donnie McGrath and for another run at a TBT Championship.

Jake Hirschmann, one of the founders of Eberlein Drive, joins TBT to talk about how he and his buddies turned a dream born on a cul-de-sac outside Detroit into a reality. Taking the experience of 2014 into 2015, Hirschmann, Craigen, and Joey Oster joined forces with Matt Mitchell to create a competitive team, filled with top-notch professional talent, playing in the best leagues around the world. If they can match the leap from '14 to '15 this year, look for Eberlein Drive to be a team to beat in TBT 2016.

In 2015, Jake Pavorsky used his experience and access with Liberty Ballers (the blog) to create and grow Liberty Ballers (the team). With a seriously loaded lineup, the Liberty Ballers did Philly proud, reaching the round of 16, before ultimately falling to Boeheim's Army. Pavorsky vows to be back and better in TBT 2016. With last year's positive experience to build on, he might well be the first GM to bring a professional championship to Philadelphia since Pat Williams.