Running It Back

As of the release of this episode, Mike Tomlin is the lone Black Head Coach remaining in the NFL. Tarlin and Mike run it back to ongoing conversations about the Rooney Rule, referencing Tomlin, Art Shell, and Jim Caldwell. We talk Eric Bieniemy and Byron Leftwich. Reminisce and look for lessons from Tony Dungy and Bill Belichick. And ultimately celebrate Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's recent hiring as GM of the Minnesota Vikings. Tarlin talks about the work of Guy Primus and The Board Challenge to effect the long, slow turnaround of institutions like the NFL. We admit that we can't quit the NFL even though we know we probably should as we say goodbye to a friend of the show and talk about giving black head coaches more than what they're getting to turn a franchise around. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more lessons learned from sports.

Tarlin and Mike are back to find lessons learned from sports. This time we look at the spectacle surrounding Antonio Brown's exit from the Tampa Bay Bucs game versus the New York Jets during the 3rd quarter of the game last weekend. Why did Tarlin not want to cover the AB story? How does this situation compare to the broader challenges of working with divas and other selfish personalities on teams and in the workplace? What must it have been like to be Bruce Arians trying to talk to AB while recovering from Covid and a partially torn Achilles? And how might this relate to Mike Tomlin and lessons from other diva wide receivers like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Chad Ocho Cinco over the years? We cover all of this while kicking off 2022 with our inimitable style. Thank you for listening. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you pod. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing lessons learned from sports.

Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer are back to look for lessons learned from a year’s worth of podcast episodes in 2021. We think back on the 20 episodes we released and break down the topics, themes, and human stories that made for an incredible year of programming. Whether it’s Simone Biles, the Rooney Rule, Sports Parenting, or Kyrie and the Vaccine, we talk through our conversations about what bubbled up in the collective consciousness from the world of sports and try to make sense of it all while having some fun along the way. We thank each other and most importantly our listeners as we begin to look ahead to build on what’s now a strong foundation heading into 2022. Thanks to everyone who is listening and supporting us. We couldn’t have gotten here without you! Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing lessons learned from sports.

Tarlin and Mike return to talk about the recent changes to the NCAA regulations about college players' ability to monetize their Name, Image, and Likenesses. We run it back to the case of Ed O'Bannon who was the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA on violation of antitrust regulations based on the use of his image in an EA Sports Video Game in 2009. In addition to Easy Ed, we reflect on what we've seen since the temporary measure was put in place by the NCAA in July as we think about what this means for college athletes, the NCAA, and elitist notions of amateurism. We also talk Azzi Fudd, brainstorm ideas for Space Jam 3, recall Gavin Newsome's appearance on The Shop with LeBron James and much more. It's a fun romp through a significant change to college sports that is opening up opportunities for players and also for sports like women's volleyball and other women's sports that may not have traditionally garnered broader support and attention. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing lessons learned from sports.

Tarlin and Mike are back, this time to run it back to a new perspective on the legacy of the 1990s Bulls. This time it's from Scottie Pippen's perspective based on his recent memoir, Unguarded. What was it like to be Robin to Michael Jordan's Batman? How did Scottie demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability that are critical to being an effective teammate and collaborator? And where did he go too far and come across as hurt and a little bit petty in his portrayal of the Bulls Dynasty from the perspective of its "Second Banana?" We explore all of this and learn the importance of good nutrition while cycling in a whirlwind conversation that even includes some of Scotties deep and soulful DJ voice before concluding. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing Lessons Learned from Sports.

Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer are back looking to find lessons learned from the Aaron Rodgers situation in Green Bay. Now that it is confirmed that Rodgers is not vaccinated against Covid-19 and that he was referring to alternative treatments when he told the media he was immunized, what wisdom and leadership lessons can be found in all of this? We watched the Pat McAfee Show Appearance where Rodgers rails against the "woke mob" and "cancel culture" as he defends his decision to break the unjust rule of having to be masked during interviews with the press. We explore the impact on team culture when the leader lies and how it's different when he's truthful within the team while obscuring the truth with the media. And we make some connections to the political arena and how the "Big Lie" can galvanize the group and perhaps set up Green Bay for a deep playoff run. How does Aaron compare to Alex Rodriguez, Lance Armstrong, and other famous liars in sports? Does he suffer from "affluenza" and is a bit too quick to take on a narrative of victimization? We answer all of this and more in a free-wheeling conversation that you won't want to miss. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more great shows like this.

Tarlin and Mike look for lessons learned from the acrimony surrounding Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers as we head into the 2021-2022 NBA Season. After another disappointing finish for the Sixers in the NBA Playoffs in the Summer of 2021, neither Joel Embiid nor Doc Rivers gave Ben Simmons the support he was looking for. Then after Ben asked for a trade, the drama increased as his request has not yet been granted. Simmons eventually appeared at practice but was so disengaged that Doc ended up sending him home. Ben's since spoken with the team and is choosing to take time away as he is not mentally ready to play at this time. What lessons can we find in this developing sports soap opera? What does it tell us about leadership? What can we learn by Running It Back to Sam Henkie and The Process? Who should take the reins and how will this resolve? Will Philly Persevere, Pivot, or Kill at this point? How much can teams cater to delicate stars and at what point does it become toxic? We cover all of this and even get Tarlin's lightning round run through a cavalcade of disgruntlement before we wrap up a relevant and insightful dive into the psyches and mindsets of the modern NBA. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more great content.

Tarlin and Mike are back. This time it's to talk about vaccines and the NBA with the spotlight on Andrew Wiggins, Bradley Beal, and the mercurial Kyrie Irving as we head into the 2021-2022 season. We touch on the comments by LeBron James and Draymond Green in response to the decisions of several players to opt-out of the Covid-19 vaccine despite its impact on their ability to suit up regularly. What lessons can this teach us about leadership? How does this tie back to Sandy Koufax, Joe Montana, and the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls? Is Kyrie a latter day heyoka as understood by the Sioux people--one who walks backward much in the way that Phil Jackson famously described Dennis Rodman? And what can be learned by the example of Wiggins who ultimately opted into the vaccine? We cover all of this and hope to tease out lessons learned from the challenge of vaccine protocols to team dynamics in the world of sports and in our everyday lives. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more great shows like this.

To kick off our second year of Running It Back, Tarlin and Mike are back to talk NFL, beginning by returning to 2008 and Terrell Owens’ legendarily tearful “That’s My Quarterback” press conference. We recall how Owens defended his quarterback, Tony Romo, who was taking heat from the press for vacationing in Cabo with Jessica Simpson during the Cowboys’ bye week prior to losing to the future Superbowl Champion New York Giants We look for lessons to be learned from this and other QB controversies across the league in 2021 as we get amped up listening to The Mad Fanatic’s hype track for Drew Lock,That’s My Quarterback. From there, we’re off to the races, tracking the controversies emerging everywhere while looking for lessons for our professional lives based on controversies with the “CEOs on the field.” Whether it’s Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones, or Justin Fields, Mike and Tarlin bring hot takes and sharp connections to QB conversations present and past. We’re excited to be back for another year of Running It Back. Thanks for joining us for the ride. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more great shows like this!

Tarlin and Mike are back to talk about the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. What initially may have touched on the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat across the full span of athletic competition has become a global conversation about lessons to be learned from Simone Biles' decision to opt-out of the Finals of the Team All-Around, the Individual All-Around, and several of the individual events in Women's Gymnastics. What lessons can be learned about empathy, grace, and psychological well-being based on what has happened in Tokyo and how the conversation has reverberated around the world. Does it make sense for us to equate Simone's decision with taking a "Mental Health Day" or is there more going on here? And what are the ramifications of using elite athletes performing at or close to perfection as models for us to learn from in our day-to-day lives? It's a zeitgeisty conversation that we're happy to lean into. We hope you enjoy listening! For more great shows like this Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. And check us out at RunningItBack.fm.

Tarlin and Mike are back again with a special bonus episode of Running It Back where we look for lessons learned from the Space Jam franchise coinciding with the recent release of LeBron's new film, Space Jam: A New Legacy. To start, we give respect and a little tunefulness in honor of the late great Biz Markie, RIP. Then we begin by digging back into the context around the first Space Jam movie which was fleshed out in The Last Dance documentary which we've covered on other shows. We bask in a little 90s nostalgia for MJ's charisma and a cast of NBA Legends at the time including Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Larry Johnson, Mugsy Bogues, and Shawn Bradley. From there, we jump to the Summer of 2021 and the release of the new Space Jam vehicle featuring LeBron, Diana Taurasi, Clay Thompson among others. How does the new version stack up against the OG Space Jam? What are our thoughts on Don Cheadle's performance as Al G Rithm in the WB Serververse? What marketing advice do we have for Warner Brothers and who is Mike's pick to star in Space Jam 3? Listen in to find out! For more great shows like this Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. And check us out at RunningItBack.fm

Tarlin and Mike are back to break down the 2021 NBA Finals, beginning with CP3 before concluding with Giannis. How do we place players like Giannis and the Point God and their respective teams into the annals of history now that the Milwaukee Bucks have triumphed in six games? What lessons can be learned from the example of the Bucks culture and the leadership style of Giannis Antetokounmpo that can be applied in other areas of our lives? And what of the old adage, "Offense wins games, Defense wins championships?" We cover all of this and even speculate about potential casting decisions for Space Jam 3. Listen in and enjoy!

Tarlin and Mike are back looking for lessons learned in sports. This time we take a deep dive into the career arc and leadership lessons of one Christopher Emmanuel Paul III, aka CP3, aka the Point God. How have the last two years in his lengthy NBA career allowed for a new understanding of his leadership style and championship pedigree? We compare CP3 to other NBA greats who never won a Championship and go back and forth while running it back to the 1993 NBA Championship--the last time the Suns made it to the Finals. How will the Point God stack up with the pantheon of NBA legends and what lessons can we draw from his evolution as a leader culminating in this historic run in the Valley of the Sun? Listen in to find out. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at RunningItBack.fm

Tarlin and Mike run it back to November of 2004 where the infamous Malice in the Palace took place in Auburn Hills, Michigan. We draw parallels between a recent spate of incidents between players and fans and what quickly escalated into the worst fracas in NBA history during a game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. The Malice involved players fighting fans in the stands and on the court and was much more severe than what we've seen in the 2021 NBA Playoffs so far, but we look for lessons to be learned for today here. If you want to refresh your memory, here's the video of the melee. And here's a great interview of Reggie Miller by Dan Patrick that gets at what it was like to be amid the chaos back in the day. Ron Artest, Ben Wallace, Stephen Jackson and others brought a toughness that we haven't seen lately in the NBA, but the roiling emotions and poor boundaries on the part of fans can lead to out-of-control scenes like what we saw in Detroit in 2004. We spend time finding narratives and connections to the Malice in the Palace that resonates in the disruptive times we're living in today. If you enjoy what you're hearing, subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more great shows like this.

Tarlin and Mike are back to draw lessons learned from Naomi Osaka's recent withdrawal from the 2021 French Open citing mental health concerns around appearing for press conferences. We dig into this kerfuffle with the leadership of Roland-Garros over her decision to skip press conferences so she could focus on tennis and run it back to recent tennis history with Naomi's first Grand Slam title at the 2018 US Open versus her idol, Serena Williams. That match is emotionally challenging to watch and it clearly has had a profound impact on Osaka that we wanted to explore more deeply. Whether it's the tennis of the match itself, the cringe-worthy umpiring controversy between Serena and umpire Cesar Ramos, the equally painful to watch Trophy Ceremony, or Naomi's post-match press conference in 2018, we explore all the angles to try to understand and empathize with where Naomi is coming from. Along the way, we dig into other famously awkward media appearances by Allen Iverson, Marshawn Lynch, Rasheed Wallace, Greg Popovich, and Bill Belichek before concluding with our thoughts on mental health awareness and the recent trend towards its destigmatization in sports. Naomi is taking a stand here as a role model and leader in Gen Z and we want to recognize her courage as we look to learn from the history contentious relationships between athletes like Naomi and the press. If you like what you're hearing subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at RunningItBack.fm

Tarlin and Mike return again. This time to run it back to the history of dominant sports dads who built cultures and drew fire as their offspring rose to unprecedented heights in the sports world. We begin by looking at the story of LaVar Ball who is attempting to build a family business in the NBA with Lonzo Ball and likely 2021 Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball already thriving. From there, we run it back to the narratives around Earl Woods raising Tiger Woods and Richard Dove Williams Jr raising Venus and Serena Williams. What do these stories have in common and what lessons can we learn about parenting, leadership, and family? We explore all of this and also look at the frequently unsung roles of the mothers in these sports families. Are we really talking about Co-CEOs as the key to building a sports legend? How are these alpha Dads reminiscent of Steve Jobs? And is Kultida Woods truly the Tiger Mom of all Tiger Moms? Listen in to find out. And be sure to subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more great shows like this!

With the NFL Draft approaching, Tarlin and Mike return to explore the history of black quarterbacks taken in the first round over the years. We begin with a quick breakdown of the prospects for the 2021 draft with Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields among those at the top of the list. How does race intersect with the predraft hype and projections for Fields, Lawrence and others. From there we run it back through the history of black QBs taken in the first round and even share the story of one Willie “Mitts” Thrower who was the first black man to take a snap as QB in the NFL back in 1953. We talk about Doug Williams, Warren Moon and even Kordel Stewart, aka “Slash” as we look for lessons from the past and ways to learn from examples throughout the years. Whether it’s Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper, or Donovan McNabb, we look to the past to help understand the present in an insightful jaunt down memory lane. We conclude with a particularly salient example of why giving black players a shot at the CEO position on the field makes all the difference If you love what you’re hearing, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing lessons learned from the world of sports.

Tarlin and Mike are back to talk about Jeremy Lin's historic hot streak back in 2012 when he took advantage of his opportunity with the New York Knicks to break through and lead the team to an amazing winning streak before being sidelined with an injury and getting traded to the Houston Rockets. We explore what got him to that point and why he captured the global consciousness at the time before shifting focus to what lessons we can draw from his experience both during the stratospheric heights of 2012 to what is now a 10 year professional career in the NBA. We also explore his role as a trailblazer, a role model, and an influencer as issues of AAPI hate and bias have recently bubbled up in America and beyond. We talk through what Linsanity means to Knicks fans (Mike) and Harvard Alums (Tarlin) before concluding with takeaways about self-belief, focus and preparation in what we hope is an inspirational return trip to a magical performance during a brief stretch of time nearly 10 years ago. Thanks as always for Running It Back with us. If you like what you're hearing subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and check us out at RunningItBack.fm.

Tarlin and Mike are back to talk about Stephen Curry, the shooter and gamechanger. What lessons can we learn from Steph’s first emergence onto the national stage in the 2008 NCAA Tournament when Davidson advanced to the Elite Eight as a 10-seed? How does the House of Curry stack up against other NBA lineages? How does Steph compare to Reggie Miller and Dame Lillard? By analyzing the impact of an NBA legend who has been consistently underestimated, we learn how he changed the game and how his impact includes lessons that transcend the dimensions of a basketball court. If you like what your hearing, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And visit us at RunningItBack.fm for all the best lessons to be learned from the world of sports.

We run it back to Tiger Woods' heroic return to greatness culminating in his remarkable win in the 2019 Masters Tournament. Tarlin shares his personal connection to Tiger over the years as we talk about his impact on sports and culture through the years. What began with his epic win at the 1998 Masters started a run of unequaled dominance until things took a turn in 2009 that required a different kind of excellence and mettle that ultimately led to triumph in 2019 and now is once again fraught in light of his recent car accident in February of 2021. Tarlin concludes with a heartfelt Ode to Tiger that you won't want to miss. If you like what you're hearing subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts and check us out at RunningItBack.fm

On the heels of Naomi Osaka's victory in the 2021 Australian Open, Tarlin and Mike spend some time reflecting on the legend and the legacy of Serena Williams. What lessons can be learned from Serena's career? How does she stack up versus other greats in Women's Tennis and against other athletes overall? We talk about her broader cultural impact beyond the court and conclude that Serena belongs on our Mount Rushmore ahead of Tom Brady, Martina Navritalova, and more. If you like what you're hearing, check us out at RunningItBack.fm and subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts.

Tarlin and Mike are back to kick off 2021 with a dive into the history and relevance of the "Rooney Rule" which was established in 2003 to ensure that diverse candidates got interviews for open Head Coaching positions. We refer to the research of CC Dubois from the 2017 MIT Sloan Conference where she established a 19-21% positive impact on the diversity of NFL Coaching hires due to the Rooney Rule. Recent trends in Head Coaching and GM hires in the NFL have brought this back into focus as we now have reverted close to 2003 levels with top Offensive Coordinators like Eric Bieniemy and Byron Leftwich somehow being passed over for recent head coach openings. Do "soft" affirmative action practice like the Rooney Rule work? What can we learn from Tony Dungy's example? What lessons can we apply to the broader world of work and diversity, equity, and inclusion based on what we're seeing in the NFL? We explore all of this and touch on the related challenges around the perception of black quarterbacks over the years on our latest episode. If you like what you're hearing, follow us at RunningItBack.fm and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Mike and Tarlin look back on the year that was 2020 in this special wrap-up edition of Running It Back. We look back at our Origin Story of launching the show amid the tumult of the first wave of the pandemic in the US before diving into a rundown of the most downloaded shows since we launched in the Fall. What's our most downloaded show so far and what have will we take with us into 2021 and beyond? Hear our thoughts and aspirations we reflect on an incredible run of shows about lessons learned from sports as we look ahead to our next run of shows heading into 2021! Thanks so much for listening. If you like what you're hearing, follow us at runningitback.fm and wherever you listen to podcasts. Here's to an amazing New Year!

Tarlin and Mike dive back into the NFL this episode by examining the QB situations heading into the 2021 NFL Playoffs. Did Aaron Rodgers need the motivation of a potential QB Controversy to lead the Packers in what may be an MVP season? How does the QB controversy between Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Fitzpatrick remind us of famous QB1 vs QB1A controversies from back in the day? We talk about all of this and sort out who gets to hold the clipboard on our latest episode of Running It Back! If you like what you're hearing, follow us at https://runningitback.fm and wherever you get your podcasts.

We talk about the "Sweet Science" of boxing comebacks triggered by the recent Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. match. How does Tyson's comeback hearken back to George Foreman's reinvention and brief reascension to claim the heavyweight title in the 1990s? In what ways are Tyson and Foreman similar? How does this tie to The Greatest of All Time, Muhammad Ali? And are there lessons we can learn from all of this? We answer all of these questions and even a few more on today's show. Listen in and enjoy. And check us out at RunningItBack.fm and wherever you get your podcasts.

Tarlin and Mike connect to talk about The Masters in November, Klay Thompson's achilles injury, and the NBA Draft/Free Agency period that is almost too 24/7 News cycle for any of us to take. Tarlin touts the Lake Show while Mike is cautiously optimistic about the progress of the New York Knickerbockers and Obi Toppin.

Tarlin and Mike show some range on this episode, expanding beyond basketball to run it back through World Series and baseball seasons past as we celebrate the Los Angeles Dodgers' historic run to the championship in this very strange Major League Baseball season. And while it was oddly fitting that their celebration was marred by the on-field appearance of Justin Turner who had recently tested positive for Covid-19, we dig in further to Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger as two modern-day examples of so-called "5-Tool Players." What can we learn from the concept of a 5-tool player who can hit for average, hit for power, run the bases, defend their position, and have a great arm? How does this relate to the concept of an "athlete hire?" What's the sixth tool that Mike claims Mookie Betts possesses and perhaps Mike Trout lacks? Who are the top 4 Mookies of all time? And which franchises and fan bases are most deserving to end their longstanding championship droughts? Our resident Mets fan makes his case for Uncle Steve Cohen helping the World Series return to Flushing, Queens. All this and more on the latest episode of Running It Back!.

In the final installment of our miniseries about The Last Dance miniseries, Tarlin and Mike break down the final two episodes of The Last Dance for lessons learned as well as a few healthy doses of 1990s nostalgia. Here we recap the Michael Jordan-led 1990s Bulls' final two NBA Championship runs versus Reggie Miller's Indiana Pacers and the Stockton-Malone Utah Jazz. We get into Jordan's dubious portrayal of the so-called "Flu Game" and Mike tries to protect the honor of the pizzerias of Salt Lake City. What lessons can we learn from Jordan's superteam as we think through the keys to leadership, teamwork, and winning in these tumultuous times. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed putting this together. Here's to keeping on Running It Back!

We run it back again to our roots in the Spring of 2020 when Tarlin and Mike were regrouping after the premiere of each episode of The Last Dance to break it down and look for lessons learned from each episode. We also indulged in some serious 90s nostalgia along the way. In today's show, we talk through Jordan's stint at baseball, his return to Scottie's Bulls, and the beginning of their second Threepeat in a classic NBA Finals matchup against Gary "The Glove" Payton and Shawn "Manchild" Kemp of the Seattle Supersonics. We hope you enjoy. And stay tuned for our final wrapup show on The Last Dance slated to drop in the next few days!

Once again, we run it back to Spring of 2020 in the midst of the first wave of Covid-19 when Mike and Tarlin began this crazy ride by analyzing episodes of The Last Dance for 1990s nostalgia along with some lessons learned for today's day and age. This episode covers episodes 5 and 6 of the 10 part docuseries called The Last Dance. We talk about Michael's emergence as the alpha among alphas on The Dream Team, explore the Toni Kukoc narratives, and touch on the legendary run the Bulls took to their first of two Threepeats in the 1990s.. There's a lot to dig into and we hope you enjoy a glimpse into how Running It Back came into being along the way. Thanks as always for listening.

Learn how Running It Back got started in this special episode which includes the original recording of our takes on the ESPN Docuseries, The Last Dance that launched in the Spring of 2020. Many of us, including Mike and Tarlin, were transfixed by this series that launched at the height of the first wave of the coronavirus before live sports returned to us. Tarlin and Mike reminisce about Michael, Scottie, Dennis, and Phil as we try to glean lessons learned from the incredible story of the most dominant NBA Dynasty in recent memory. If you want to learn how this all began, join us as we run it back to Spring 2020 and then all the way back to the 1990s during this unique and historic episode you won't want to miss!

Now that we've had a little time to let the 2020 NBA Season settle in, we thought it would be a great time to talk about who is the G.O.A.T Basketball player. There's been a lot of hubbub around Michael versus LeBron so we weigh in with our takes there. We also bring Bill Russell and Kareem into the conversation about the greatest of all time. And along the way, Tarlin makes his pitch to modernize the NBA logo, Mike brings in some random 1990s basketball references, and we commit to showing some range next time by broadening to more than the NBA. But for this show, it's all about the GOAT of Basketball. We hope you enjoy!

For this episode, based on the Quibi docuseries, Blackballed, we run it back to 2014 when Donald Sterling, then the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was caught on tape engaging in offensive, racially charged speech. Once the tapes got out, there was outrage across the NBA and more broadly in the nation that ultimately led the newly appointed commissioner, Adam Silver, to impose a lifetime ban on Sterling that resulted in his sale of the team. Tarlin and Mike share their quick takes on Quibi, which had just launched at the time, before digging into the relevance of the themes in the series. Since we recorded in late May, we connect this to the uproar triggered by the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. We look for lessons in leadership from the examples of Doc Rivers, Chris Paul, Adam Silver, and even Matt Barnes as we dive into a complex and relevant conversation about sports and its role in elevating consciousness about racial issues. We recorded this prior to the NBA's season in the Bubble in Orlando, but much remains relevant as we continue to struggle with issues of race, justice, and equity in sports and in our broader society.

Join us as we run it back through a few crazy months of NBA Bubble 2020. Tarlin and Mike reflect back on the amazing run the NBA had through the Bubble in Orlando. In addition to highlighting the stories we'll remember along the way, we conclude by assessing the bona fides of the Laker and Heat squads. While we might not come to agreement on Jimmy Buckets, we can't deny that the NBA Bubble season will live on in our memories and that LeBron truly solidified his legacy with this run to glory. Most likely this win for Laker nation will come without an asterisk, but you never know...

Tarlin and Mike got together just before the tipoff of the 2020 NBA Finals to talk through the David versus Goliath matchup between Jimmy Buckets and a crew of role players versus LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and an interesting supporting cast. How many championships are represented on each squad? Who deserves credit for assembling the crews that have made it the Finals? And will this Championship come with an asterisk? We cover all this along with JeVale McGee's influence on Dwight Howard, the Resurgence of Playoff Rondo, and Andre Iguodala's 6th consecutive Finals appearance in a quick hit lightning round episode heading into what we hope to be a tremendous conclusion to the NBA's year in the Bubble in Orlando. Thanks as always for listening. And check out our website at runningitback.fm and follow us at @runningitbackfm on Twitter. Follow us, subscribe, leave a review, and help us spread the word about lessons to be learned from sports!

Tarlin and Mike run through the four possible matchups for the NBA Finals. In all likelihood, it will be Lakers-Heat which has all sorts of angles to run it back to, but we do some scenario-based thinking about Lakers-Celtics, Nuggz-Heat, and Nuggz-Celtics before wrapping up this quick-hitter before we actually break down the NBA Finals once we know for sure what's going to happen. Listen in and enjoy.

Tarlin and Mike reflect on the opening of the NFL season with a mix of excitement, confusion, and frustration just after the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans began the 2020 NFL season in front of 17,000 live fans at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The fractured approach to protesting the anthem, with the Texans opting to remain in the locker room before joining the Chiefs for a moment of unity resulted in boos from the fans and confusion from TV viewers like Mike who watched it live. We run it back to how sports can help us heal in difficult times like after the September 11th attacks in 2001 and contrast that with the unevenness and confusion of the return of football today. We tie much of that to the story of Colin Kaepernick who lost his opportunity to play in the NFL thus far since his protest of police brutality back in 2016. From there, we hit on the history of controversy around the abilities of black quarterbacks which seems mostly a thing of the past as we witness Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and other elite black quarterbacks establish a new understanding of the position. From there, we quickly run through the QB1s out there to sort out where the most intriguing controversies may arise this year. There's much to talk about with Aaron Rogers and Jordan Love and we connect that narrative to the Joe Montana and Steve Young era in San Francisco along with the Drew Bledsoe and Jimmy Garrappolo battles with Tom Brady over the years. We're happy that football's back, and in this crazy year, we try to put this season in some context as we run it back to seasons gone by. And we sprinkle in a bit of Friday Night Lights while we're at it. Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose. Thanks for listening.

Tarlin and Mike run it back to November 7th, 1991 when Magic Johnson held an emergency press conference to announce that he had the HIV virus and that he'd be retiring from the NBA immediately. The news shocked the world and we reflect back on where we were when this flashbulb moment in sports history occurred. Magic went on to have a storied career after the announcement - playing in the NBA All Star Game and on The Dream Team in 1992. The league responds by establishing the "Blood Rule" and working through the fears and objections of other players like Byron Scott and Karl Malone to demonstrate that even in the early 1990s, the NBA was up to the challenge of managing the medical risks of virus spread. Perhaps more importantly, it was our first experience with the confusion and misinformation of dealing with an epidemic and there are many parallels we draw between this story and much of what we're seeing in the NBA in 2020.

Tarlin and Mike run it all the way back to 1999 to cover the season that was shortened due to a work stoppage. Through a series of fortuitous events, the New York Knicks get hot and tear through the early rounds of the playoffs before overcoming the loss of The Big Fella, Patrick Ewing, in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Despite losing their Captain, the Knicks go on to beat the Pacers by virtue of the heroic play of Latrell Spreewell, Marcus Camby, Alan Houston, and Larry Johnson. They go on to face Greg Popovich and Tim Duncan in the Finals where they were quickly dispatched as the Spurs dynasty begins to take shape. What can we learn from this? How do the stories of 1999 resonate with life in the NBA Bubble amid the tumult of 2020? As leaders, what lessons can we learn from Van Gundy, Spree, Tim Duncan, and Pop? Listen in as we run it back to help make sense of things today.

Tarlin and Mike bring us back to the story of Allen Iverson which in many ways culminated in the notorious press conference in which he said the word "practice" 22 times. We explore what brought AI to that point and how in many ways it has marginalized his impact on the game and the lessons we can learn from his career. We run it all the way back to his incredible high school career at Bethel and the incident at the bowling alley which nearly ended his basketball life before it even began. From there, we try to learn from his impact with John Thompson at Georgetown right through his career with the Philadelphia 76ers and Larry Brown. Thanks as always for listening.

This week we run it back to the story of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to glean lessons about the protests we're seeing in 2020. Mahmoud began his life as Chris Jackson, a poor kid from Louisiana who battled Tourette's Syndrome to become a tremendous college basketball player at LSU in the early 1990s. We chronicle the challenges he faced finding his way as he eventually found solace and spiritual direction through Islam. That in turn led him to change his name and begin with a silent protest of the National Anthem that eventually went public. As he remained true to his convictions, he was blackballed by the NBA and was quickly out of the league, in some ways presaging the story of Colin Kaepernik in 2016. What lessons can we learn from Mahmoud's story? How is he similar and different from Kaepernik? We dive into all of this as we look for lessons to be learned based on the transformative story of the life of Abdul-Rauf. And we also harken back to the early 1990s along the way. Thanks as always for listening.

We begin by reflecting on the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, aka Black Panther, before diving into the history of the other legend who passed recently, Georgetown Coach John Thompson. Coach Thompson was a towering figure who established a program whose legacy we're still experiencing to this day. We explore his impact on college basketball by focusing on getting young black men access to education while giving them support as men. We extol the timeless ways in which he connected with his players for good times and bad as we tell the stories of Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Allen Iverson, and Michael Graham. And we explore the lessons in his decision to walk out in 1989 to protest Proposition 48 and its impact on traditionally underserved student-athletes. And, of course, we dive into Ewing and Thompson's storied run from an appearance in the NCAA Finals against Dean Smith, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, and Michael Jordan in 1982 to a Championship in 1984 to a legendary run in 1985 which culminated in the shocking upset by Villanova in the Finals in 1985. While we mourn the loss of Coach Thompson, we take some solace in running it back to another time and learning from the life of a man who had the courage to stand by his conviction and the vision to establish a legacy that changed the world.