Sports Connections with David Smale

Episode 14: Andrea Albino - It's Time to Party

Some people watch the Super Bowl for the halftime show. Oh, the football game is an afterthought and the commercials are just to loosen up the audience. When the main act takes the stage, their world stops. But someone has to make sure that the show goes on. Andrea Albino is one of those people, and she has had the opportunity to be part of the crew that puts together the show. COVID kept her away from Tampa this weekend, but she joins “Sports Connections” to share the attention to detail that is as much a part of the Pepsi Halftime Show as it is a part of the final score.

Episode 13: Gene Steratore - Officially Speaking

Gene Steratore spent most of his adult life laying down the law, first as a college basketball official and then adding a similar role in professional football. The son of a college football and basketball official, he traveled the country visiting America’s favorite college arenas and stadiums. He met President Gerald Ford prior to an Army-Navy game when he was 10 years old. When his playing career was over, he picked up his whistle and spent the next 30-plus years keeping order on the court…and the field. Gene joins “Sports Connections” to talk about his career as an official, and his new career as CBS’s go-to guy for rules interpretations.

Episode 12: Al Wallace - Maximum Effort and Attention

Al Wallace spent more than 40 years in television sports, beginning in his home state of Texas, through a short stint in Las Vegas and the final 33 years in Kansas City. Wallace grew up in a military family with his father a career Army man. The discipline he learned in his family, combined with a work-ethic he learned through participating in Texas high school football, helped him develop an approach that he carried with him throughout his professional career: never settle for ordinary effort. Give it your best effort, and make sure you leave nothing in the tank. Al joins “Sports Connections” to talk about the changes in sports television and what keeps him giving “one for the Coyotes.”

Episode 11: Anson Dorrance - A Championship Tradition

When FIFA announced that it would conduct a Women’s World Cup in 1991, US Soccer immediately sought to make an impact. While the American men had never won a World Cup title, there was an opportunity for the USWNT to establish itself as an international power. The responsibility fell at the feet of North Carolina’s Anson Dorrance. Dorrance has won 21 national championships with the Tar Heels and has finished second five more times. He’s had players on every USWNT since the first one. Anson joins “Sports Connections” to talk about his strategy in recruiting, coaching and life away from the pitch.

Episode 9: John Vallely - A Winning Culture

When UCLA was in the process of winning 10 national basketball championships in 12 years, including seven in a row from 1967 through 1973, they had their pick of players. Everyone wanted to play for Coach John Wooden. But that presented a problem for players who wanted to star at the collegiate level. Wooden stressed team over individual. John Vallely averaged 26 points per game at Orange Coast College as a sophomore, but he fit nicely into Wooden’s system for the 1968-69 season. But Vallely said he learned far more about life than he did about basketball in his two championship years for the Bruins. Vallely joins “Sports Connections” to talk about the culture of UCLA basketball during Wooden’s championship run.

Episode 8: Adam Teicher - A Lasting Impact in Kansas City

Adam Teicher arrived in Kansas City the same time that the Chiefs added Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Marcus Allen. The difference between those players and Adam, besides a significant amount of athletic ability, is that Teicher is still around and still has a following, locally and nationally. He’s completed his 28th year covering the Chiefs. As the Chiefs prepare for their defense of their Super Bowl LIV championship title, Teicher joins “Sports Connections” to talk about his favorite memories of players and coaches he’s had a chance to cover.

Episode 7: Kathy Nelson - Kansas City's Sports Champion

Kansas City is in the middle of America, and for the past decade, so have Kansas City sports. Beginning with Sporting Kansas City winning MLS Cup in 2013, followed by the Royals winning the American League championship in 2014 and 2015, and the World Series in 2015, and the Chiefs winning Super Bowl LIV last season, KC sports have been in the middle of the national sports conversation. From planning celebrations to luring national events, the role of leading the charge across all sports is the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. Kathy Nelson joins “Sports Connections” to talk about the work that goes into leading the charge.

Episode 6: Steve Wieberg - Respected Like an Insider

Steve Wieberg spent 30 years as the main college sports writer for the USA Today, joining the fledgling newspaper at the onset. He was well-respected by coaches and administrators, which is represented by the fact that he was selected to be one of the members of the first College Football Playoff selection committee. He had left the paper so there was no conflict of interest. But he was definitely still thought of as an expert. He also was the first person to publicly state the teams he thought would be selected for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. He joins “Sports Connections” to talk about his career as a journalist and to give us some behind-the-scenes looks at life in college athletics.

Episode 5: Steve Miller - Best to Be Lucky and Good

Steve Miller was the athletics director at Kansas State when the latest job opening came up in 1988. There was serious consideration in dropping out of Division I in football, or even dropping football altogether. He had one more chance. After multiple coaches turned down the “opportunity,” Miller fixed his sights on Iowa offensive coordinator Bill Snyder. There was something different about this guy, and Miller wouldn’t take no for an answer. Snyder called Miller the “worldwide leader in persistence.” That move certainly paid off, as did other moves he made after he left Kansas State, including taking Nike from a very large company to a behemoth in sports. Steve joins us to talk about all his “good fortune.”

Episode 4: Bill Snyder - The 'Coach of the Century'

When Bill Snyder took over the Kansas State football program after the 1988 season, the Wildcats were the worst program in college football history. Over the prior 40 years, they were dead last in total offense in the nation. Not to be outdone, their defense was also dead last in that same period. Snyder used an unmatched work-ethic and attention to detail to not only make Kansas State a top-20 team, but a top-20 program, reaching bowl games in 11 straight years. He talks about that approach that he still uses with causes that are important to him after football.