The NBA Playoffs actually have some drama. The Stanley Cup Finals are set in stone. The NFL continues to make stupid decisions. Now that you’re all caught up, let’s talk about what it’s like to cover sports with one of my favorite radio hosts, and now co-workers, with Chris Spatola.
Before we get into Episode 112, as a reminder, The Bridge is broadcast as a one-hour radio show Monday through Friday on Sports Radio America at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. A brand new show airs on Wednesdays, then is released as a podcast on iTunes and on this website immediately following the episode. You can listen to the show live on Wednesday night on Sports Radio America here or through the TuneIn app. Additional bonus content, including a weekly gambling segment, can be found exclusively on this podcast.
- “Sports News Read Like Real News” throwback from around this time last year told the tale of one of the most successful dynasties in dating history, the Derek Jeter Dating Diamond (2:11).
- The Bridge Question of the Week is: MJ or LeBron, and why? Leave a voicemail or text in your answer to 929-BRIDGE7, that’s 929-274-3437, and you’ll make it on the next show.
- This week’s guest is Chris Spatola, the co-host for ACC Today on SiriusXM’s ACC Radio, an analyst for ESPN and a contributor for The Athletic to name a few. Chris has had quite the career path to get to where he is today, including a solid career playing hoops at Army, serving five years for our country after graduation, joining up with the Duke coaching staff for several years before then moving on to sports radio and television. We now work together on ACC Today, so I’ve heard some of his stories through the show and have some additional background of Duke basketball as a fan of the Blue Devils, but Chris was incredibly generous with his time to go much deeper into the behind the scenes things of his life that has led to now. We’ll chat about how he ended up playing Division 1 basketball and moving on to serve in the army post 9/11, getting back into basketball and coaching at Duke for his father-in-law, some tales from his coaching days there, transitioning into sports media and what he does now, as well as some more off the cuff questions at the end.
- Follow Chris on Twitter -> @Chris_Spatola. The interview starts at the 11:26 mark.
– In the interview, we discuss:
How playing basketball for his father in high school helped shape him (12:05), if getting to play with his brother in high school helped with that dynamic (13:55), making the decision to play basketball at Army (15:58), training for the military compared to training for hoops and dealing with academics along with it (19:06), the biggest challenge to overcome in serving in the Army and life after it (22:30), how he ended up at Duke after his five years of service (25:57), how he met his wife, Jamie Krzyzewski (27:24), if he felt like he had to prove himself when hired for the Duke coaching staff (29:19), what his roles were at Duke (32:35), the evolution of recruiting at Duke to what it is now (34:57), a moment that stands out from his time on the Duke coaching staff (39:20), how Coach K saved the 2010 season with ice cream sundaes (42:07), the competition of the coaches vs. alumni games (46:53), the decision to leave Duke for sports broadcasting (49:18), the transitions into sports media and finding his voice (51:51) and how his new show, ACC Today, is moving along (55:19)
Eazy (or) Pass, featuring some quick-hitting questions (58:11)
* Favorite Chappelle’s Show segment (58:26)
* All-time concert bill (courtesy of Tony Scarangella) (59:29)
* Who he would take at the free throw line, himself or J.J. Redick (1:01:01)
* The better writer in the Spatola family (1:01:47)
* His favorite “hot take” (1:02:07)
* How he would rate Coach K as a funny man and a dancer (1:03:35)
* If Coach K’s hair is all natural (1:05:06)
* The childhood board game he’ll most likely win (1:05:30)
* His new Instagram?? (1:06:50)
Call in or text the show 24/7 at 929-BRIDGE7, that’s (929) 274-3437. Contact the show with your questions, comments, stories or hot takes and you might be featured in the next installment of The Bridge.
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You can listen to the show live on Wednesday nights at 8 ET via Sports Radio America or the TuneIn app.
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Show music: ‘Actionable’ and ‘Epic,’ courtesy of www.bensound.com.
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