Tag: Left My Wallet

Left My Wallet: Josh Nason on the MLB season, indie wrestling scene

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Left My Wallet returns with our very own Josh Nason.

The contributing editor and host of Josh Nason’s Punch Out joins me to talk about a myriad of baseball topics like the overachieving Boston Red Sox and some possible trades they can make before the trade deadline, changes to bring more fans to the game, surprising and disappointing fantasy players, and a debate on the merits of a number of Hall of Fame candidates, both current and retired players.

We then talk the current state of independent wrestling and who are some local New England names who could be the next to break out on the national scene.

Finally, we get Josh’s answer to see if he’ll be back to defend his Observer Fantasy Football League Championship!

It’s our annual (almost) midseason baseball show, sprinkled in with a little bit of wrestling. Enjoy!

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Left My Wallet: Wrestling Weekly’s Victor Sosa

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Left My Wallet returns with the co-host of our very own Wrestling Weekly — Vic Sosa!

Vic, along with Les Thatcher, can be heard every Friday on our site talking the week’s happenings in wrestling, but on this show, he’s here to talk about current happenings in sports.

Even though he was born and raised in the Bronx, he is a huge New York Mets fan. he discusses being a young Mets fans during the lonely days, how there’s more and more New York fans who root for both the Mets and Yankees, the ’86 World Series-winning team, Jacob Degrom’s dominance, and if the NL-East leading team are a legitimate World Series contender.

We then talk about the NBA playoffs, debate LeBron James’ greatness, the Jordan vs. LeBron GOAT debate, and just how bad of a man Larry Bird was.

Finally, we wrap up with some wrestling talk and comparisons between modern day wrestling and modern day baseball.

It’s a full hour of sports and wrestling talk with one of the smoothest voices on the radio in our very own Victor Sosa. Enjoy!

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Left My Wallet: Jeff Cobb on New Japan, Ibushi match, indie wrestling

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Image: NJPW

Left My Wallet returns with New Japan superstar Jeff Cobb.

Fresh off one of the best matches of the year against Kota Ibushi, Jeff drops by to talk about training in jiu-jitsu and the transition to the mats from pro and amateur wrestling, his journey to the Olympics, wrestling Yoel Romero, and his path to main eventing in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

He also discusses breaking out on the indie scene, the advice our very own John Larocca gave him, the dojo system of training, and our mindsets when it comes to training young wrestlers.

This is a fun and quick episode with one of the best workers in the world today in New Japan’s own Jeff Cobb.

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Left My Wallet: Levi Cooper/Tucker Knight on wrestling, Pacific Northwest sports

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Left My Wallet returns with former WWE star Levi Cooper on a podcast that will show you he is much more than what we all saw on TV as Tucker Knight.

We start with Pacific Northwest sports as the Oregon native talks about his hometown Portland Trail Blazers and what they need to do to become a championship contender. We then discuss his beloved Seattle Seahawks and whether he thinks they should trade or keep Russell Wilson and what they need to get back to the Super Bowl.

The former Arizona State All-American wrestler then talks about amateur wrestling and his philosophy on both training and drilling the basics. He talks about what youth wrestlers need to focus on to get to an elite level and how he made the NCAA championships in 2011.

We also talk about his transition to pro wrestling and how those instincts from the mats directly carried over to the squared circle. Finally, we discuss training with Chad Gable, learning under Nick Dinsmore, Robbie Brookside and Norman Smiley and finish talking about Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport and how the competitive format would be perfect for him.

Levi is both a very talented athlete and worker who has yet to see the best days of his career. Join us for this fun talk about sports and get an insight into his plans for the future.

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Left My Wallet: Wrestling Weekly’s Les Thatcher talks sports, Roop vs. Kernodle

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Left My Wallet returns with our very own co-host of Wrestling Weekly, the legendary Les Thatcher.

Les and I go back many years and is someone I consider a friend as he has been both a trainer and mentor to me. We talk a myriad of current sports issues such as why he’s appalled Justin Fields fell in this years NFL Draft, what he thinks about Patrick Mahomes, his love of Tom Brady, his thoughts on his Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow, and the NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Les played against in little league.

He also talks about whether he thinks Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the basketball GOAT, his memories of baseball in the 50’s and his beloved Dodgers, whom he considers the best player ever, and why he thinks MLB players are getting injured more than ever.

We wrap up with some wrestling psychology, a famous in-ring drill Les created, what he sees and doesn’t see in training today, and what exactly was told to Don Kernodle the night he challenged Bob Roop in Mid-Atlantic.

Les is a treasure trove of wrestling and sports knowledge and is someone who has dedicated years of his life to this business we love. Very few are as honest and informative as he is. Enjoy this fun and honest talk about sports, wrestling, and training with our very own Les Thatcher.

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Left My Wallet: AEW referee Bryce Remsburg’s baseball stadium quest

Posted on by Antonio Garza

This is a free show. Just click below on the red button to listen.

Left My Wallet returns with AEW referee and massive baseball fan Bryce Remsburg.

Bryce and I discuss his love of all things baseball and his quest to visit every ballpark in person with only three left to go on his list. He professes his love for his hometown Philadelphia Phillies, where he was at when they won the 2008 World Series, and the lucky tradition he created during that championship season.

We then talk about his love of minor league baseball and share some stories from wrestling and reffing before, during, and after minor league games.

Baseball season is in full swing and so is the baseball talk here on the show. He’s small in the ring, but he has a huge love of all things baseball. Enjoy my talk with AEW’s own Bryce Remsburg!

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Left My Wallet: Lance Storm on OVW, wrestling pet peeves, working with young Brock

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Image: WWE

Left My Wallet returns with our very own Lance Storm. This is a free show, so just click the red button below to listen.

You usually get to hear Lance on Fridays on Figure Four Daily, but now, my former trainer in OVW joined me to talk about his athletic career, fitness and nutrition, and wrestling training.

He discusses why he never liked hockey as a youth growing up in Canada and gravitated towards volleyball, basketball and track and field, his athletic accomplishments during high school and college, and the reason for his insane vertical leap.

Lance then talks about his diet and training regimen when he was in the best shape of his life, how his diet and workouts have changed over the years and what he does now to stay in shape.

Finally, we talk about him being an OVW trainer in 200405 when I was in one of his first training classes. We talk about how he formulated his original curriculum, training people of different levels all at once, working with a young Brock Lesnar, and drills vs. wrestling when it comes to getting in shape. We also discuss some pet peeves that he sees today and small subtleties of in-ring working that often get overlooked.

Finally, he tells who is hands down the best worker he’s ever been in the ring with and why.

Enjoy this talk with Lance Storm that touches on sports, fitness, nutrition, in-ring psychology and technique.

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Left My Wallet: Daniel Garcia on his AEW & NXT matches, the Buffalo scene

Posted on by Antonio Garza

This show is free. Just click below on the red button to listen.

Left My Wallet returns with one of the brightest up-and-coming standouts on the independent scene today: Daniel Garcia.

The Buffalo, NY, native worked for AEW on numerous occasions last year as well as an appearance on NXT as Dante Rios. The 22-year-old champion for several organizations is a huge NBA fan so we talked about the old Buffalo Braves (now the L.A. Clippers), his love of James Harden and Jimmy Butler, and who he thinks is going to the NBA Finals.

We then talked about Buffalo hip-hop as it’s been one of the hottest around the last few years with such acts as Conway the Machine, Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, and more. Daniel also talked about what he’s listening to from the current day as well as from before he was born.

Finally, we talk about being able to work with his trainer The Blade (aka Pepper Parks) appearing on AEW Dark, and getting the chance to wrestle multiple times on NXT TV.

Joining other previous guests like Anthony Greene (August Grey), Marko Stunt, Curt Stallion and Priscilla Kelly to name a few, Daniel is the latest in a long line of young talents to come on the show before they make it big.

He might not be a name that everyone is familiar with yet, but in time, you soon will be.

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Left My Wallet: John Arezzi on being a baseball fan in New York

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Image: John Arezzi

Left My Wallet is back talking baseball with former New York Mets executive and wrestling historian John Arezzi.

John’s new book Mat Memories comes out soon, chronicling his life in wrestling, country music, and baseball. We talk about him being a baseball fan growing up, his first game, memories of his beloved Mets when he was young, and their miracle 1969 World Series win.

John shares stories of how he got into baseball, drinking with Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin, getting to know Hank Aaron, meeting George Steinbrenner, and the future MLB stars, managers, and executives he befriended when working for the Mets minor league system. 

John, unfortunately, also talks about the ’86 Mets and his outlook for the new look Francisco Lindor-led Mets for this season. 

You might have heard John on his own podcast as well as numerous other shows like Wrestling Observer Radio, but join us for a fun talk discussing only baseball on this opening day weekend.

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Left My Wallet: Baseball, beer & strange sandwiches with The Athletic’s Eno Sarris

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Note: This is a free edition of the podcast. Just click below to listen!

Image: Daniel Bryan and Hunter Pence | SF Giants

Left my Wallet returns with a special free show with one of the best baseball writers in the business: Eno Sarris from The Athletic.

Eno might be the foremost fantasy baseball expert and is known for his amazing work at both analyzing pitchers and pitching analytics. We delve into what players will break out this year and gives some fantasy sleepers for you still drafting the next few days.

We also talk about his memories of a strange sandwich he would make while watching wrestling as a kid, his confrontations with NBA champion and ESPN basketball analyst Richard Jefferson while Eno was at Stanford and Jefferson played at Arizona; and his collaborative effort on a new beer called Eephus which will soon be available at Chicago’s Old Irving Brewing.

Spring is here and that means baseball, so enjoy this quick and fun conversation with one of the best analysts in the game.

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Left My Wallet: Vince Verhei on the NFL offseason

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Left My Wallet is back with our resident pro football expert and Bryan & Vinny co-host Vince Verhei to talk about the flurry of NFL offseason moves.

“Big Vinny V” is also a writer for Football Outsiders so he is well qualified to talk about the situation with Russell Wilson in Seattle, who he thinks are the big winners in free agency, who has missed the boat on improving their team, if Cam Newton can still throw for the Patriots, and who are some low-key good signings that will help some teams the most.

But first, we’re joined by F4W stalwart and convention regular Rodney Rogers to talk about his New Orleans Saints. He talks about meeting Drew Brees at the airport and what he expects from his favorite team in their first year after the Hall-of-Fame quarterback’s retirement.

There’s never an offseason in the NFL, so take a listen as Vinny keeps you in tune with all the NFL happenings and “Hot Rod” discusses the New Orleans Saints.

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Left My Wallet: AEW’s Anthony Bowens on The Acclaimed’s rise, playing baseball

Posted on by Josh Nason

Left My Wallet returns with AEW star Anthony Bowens, one half of The Acclaimed.

Bowens burst onto the wrestling scene with past guest Max Caster and has been both a high level baseball player and huge baseball fan his whole life. Join us as we talk about his time playing college baseball at Seton Hall and Montclair St. University, the mindset a slumping hitter goes through, his favorite player growing up, who he patterned his playing style after, going to visit as many MLB ballparks as he could with his father, his love of the San Francisco Giants and more.

We also talk about wrestling and the learning curve he and his partner have had to learn going from relative obscurity to the top of the AEW tag team division, how he and Caster first teamed up and built chemistry, the nuances of tag team wrestling, and training under Pat Buck. 

Spring training is here so join us for a talk about baseball and tag team wrestling.

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Left My Wallet: Inside the wrestling & MMA trading card market

Posted on by Antonio Garza

This is a free podcast. Click the red button below to listen.

Left My Wallet is back with a free episode talking sports, wrestling and MMA cards with sports card expert Mike Gioseffi, host of Sports Cards Nonsense as part of Bill Simmons’ Ringer podcast network.

Mike and I talk about the rapid rise in prices for Steve Austin and The Rock wrestling rookie cards, a University of Miami Dwayne Johnson rookie card and what he sees in potential growth in both MMA and wrestling cards. We also delve into a 1982 wrestling set (pictured above) which is going for insane amounts of money.

We also talk about the sports card frenzy that has exploded in the last year, what players to buy now for reasonable prices, who are some rock solid players to invest in and so much more.

Enjoy this special free episode with fellow Massachusetts native, wrestling fan, and host of one of the hottest new podcasts today: Mike Gioseffi.

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Left My Wallet: Erik Watts on being a QB, DDP’s influence, WWF run

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Left My Wallet returns with former WCW and WWF star and former University of Louisville quarterback Erik Watts.

Erik talks about his time playing at Louisville under legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger, what goes through the mind of a QB while on the field, what he looks for when assessing potential pro quarterbacks, and dissecting the games of fellow alums Lamar Jackson and Teddy Bridgewater.

Erik also talks some wrestling, what it was like growing up as the son of Bill Watts, the process of going to WWF and what eventually led to his release, the celebrities he’s met through wrestling, and how Diamond Dallas Page has helped change his life.

I am also joined by Fight Game Media’s John Larocca, a manager and booker for APW in the Bay Area. He actually saw a Tekno Team 2000 vs. Heavenly Bodies house show match from 1995 that he wanted to talk about.

Enjoy some talk about football, wrestling, the intricacies of quarterback play and tag team wrestling.

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Left My Wallet free show: Impact Wrestling’s Matt Cardona

Posted on by Antonio Garza

Left My Wallet returns with a special free episode featuring newly debuted Impact Wrestling star Matt Cardona and friend of the show Flex Rumblecrunch.

Matt recently made his Impact debut and he’s here to talk action figures, diet and nutrition, and just a little bit of sports with Flex and I. We discuss when we first met, his time on the indies before WWE, who he was afraid to work with on the indies, and the tryout that got he and Brian Meyers signed.

We then talk about wrestling figures, the change in culture inside wrestling locker rooms, the Figure Wrestling Federation, figure fantasy drafts, and even more toy talk.

We wrap up by talking in-ring training, Bill Demott and Deep South Wrestling, staying ready, and a quiz to test Matt’s lack of sports knowledge.

Matt is one of the most easy going, kind, and relaxed people in or out of the business. Enjoy this talk with the three of us have a great time talking toys, wrestling, and sports.

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