Ari Shapiro on AMI Radio (05-28-20)

Posted 4 months ago Tagged

My latest guest appearance (05-28) on AMI Radio (@AMIaudio) with hosts Ramya Amuthan (@allramz) and Brock Richardson (@neutralzonebr) talking about the newly proposed NHL and NBA playoff formats.

We covered my thoughts on both leagues, what the future holds in store for Adam Silver and Gary Bettman respectively, why the profit-mongering nature of certain leagues may prevent them from returning anytime soon (hint: MLB), and why neutral cities may prove to be the tonic every fan needs once this pandemic is officially declared over.

Be sure to subscribe to The Neutral Zone (AMI.ca/listenlive) and enjoy their fine work as an accessible television channel offering professional reading and original content to blind and partially sighted Canadians.

Danny Gallagher: Baseball Author and Montreal Expos Historian

Posted 7 months ago Tagged

My latest conversation with celebrated writer, author, and Montreal Expos historian Danny Gallagher, who began covering the team in 1988 and has been a regular contributor to the Canadian Baseball Network. His latest literary effort is Always Remembered: New Revelations And Old Tales About Those Fabulous Expos.

We discussed why the Expos have become an indelible part of Canada’s baseball history, how 1969-2004 represented a treasure trove of memories for diehard fans, what could have happened in 1994 to change the fate of the franchise, and how much inspiration he’s received over the years as a true archivist and chronicler of French baseball lore.

Be sure to check out Danny on social media (@dannogallagher7) and all his prolific work across Amazon, Indigo and other major bookselling retail outlets.

Subscribe to arishapiro.ca today to receive my latest audio, video and existential creative efforts.

Music: “Circles” (Post Malone, Circles, 2019)

Ari Shapiro on FM 105.9 The Region (Vaughan) with Jim Lang (02-22-2020)

Posted 7 months ago Tagged

My latest guest appearance on FM 105.9 The Region (Vaughan) with host Jim Lang.

We discussed the Toronto Blue Jays and why a .500 season isn’t out of the question, if fans should be legitimately hopeful about the talent quotient on this team, why Shapiro and Atkins will be expected to finally deliver something tangible outside of corporate gobbledygook and incessant doubletalk, and we wrapped up by delving into the cynical reality of what Major League Baseball represents in 2020 and why you can still believe in peanuts and crackerjacks.

Check out Jim (@JimLangSports) on social media and be sure to follow his morning show on FM 105.9 The Region (@1059TheRegion).

Shapiro’s Daily Show: Saturday Edition

Posted 7 months ago Tagged

Shapiro’s Daily Show: Saturday Edition

[00:38-12:35] A conversation with Chandler Worthy of the Toronto Argonauts
[12:40-31:31] Blue Jays and Maple Leafs round table with Luke Armstrong and Sam Mendelsohn

On this episode: a compelling discussion about football and philanthropy with Chandler Worthy who happens to be a wide receiver with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. You can find him on Instagram (@cworthy16) and be sure to check out his fine work with Kalari.ca where he’s developing a mental health company aimed at working with students to improve their self-esteem and confidence in leading by example.

Also, writer and blogger Luke Armstrong (@armstrongthings) and sports broadcaster Sam Mendelsohn (@Mendy_Island) drop by to discuss the current scandal-plagued nature of a fresh new MLB season and why the Maple Leafs might be lacking the defensive pixie dust to help them deal with quality eastern conference foes.

Subscribe to arishapiro.ca today and receive all my literary and video content free of charge. It’s likely the best decision you’ll make all week.

Music: “Little Guitars” by Van Halen (Diver Down, 1982)

Ari Shapiro on TSN 1260 (Edmonton): Remembering Tony Fernandez

Posted 7 months ago Tagged

My latest appearance (02-17-20) on TSN 1260 Radio (Edmonton) with Dustin Nielson (@nielsonTSN1260).

Remembering the legendary Tony Fernandez and how he touched the hearts of an entire generation of Toronto baseball fans with his class, dignity and talent. He will always be remembered as the greatest Blue Jays player to ever put on the uniform, and for being one of the most charitable and altruistic human beings you’ll find on this planet.

Be sure to visit: https://tffoundation.ca/ and make a donation. The Tony Fernandez Foundation works with underprivileged and troubled children by nurturing and developing them through counseling, education, training, physical and spiritual activities. Tony’s vision is to fulfill his childhood dream to enrich the lives of less fortunate children.

From his website:

Dear friends,

Our dear ‘hermano y amigo’ Tony Fernandez passed away on Sunday, February 16 as a result of complications from the polycystic kidney disease that Tony suffered from over the past number of years.

The Fernandez family is deeply grateful to the many baseball colleagues, friends and fans who have surrounded them with expressions of compassion, love and prayers.

Following the funeral in Tony’s native Dominican Republic, we anticipate that plans will be made for a memorial service to take place in Toronto at a later date. Details, once finalized, will be posted on this website as well as to the Facebook Page of the Tony Fernandez Foundation – Canada.

Thank you.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38,39)

A conversation with Alex Seixeiro

Posted 8 months ago Tagged

My latest conversation with celebrated Sportsnet anchor and radio/television host Alex Seixeiro, whose industry success, commitment to his craft and informed opinions make him a powerful conversationalist and a worthwhile authority on the subject of Toronto sports.

We discussed his thoughts on the Blue Jays and their torrid off-season, the Raptors and their sublime excellence night in and night out, and the Maple Leafs and their quest to end over half a century of futility, along with his candid position on the changing of the guard (Don Cherry, Bob McCown) when it comes to broadcasting personalities and sports journalism in Canada.

Be sure to check out Alex and his fine work on social media (@alexfan590) and across all Sportsnet affiliates.

Subscribe to arishapiro.ca today to receive my latest audio, video and existential creative efforts that will either make your day or quite possibly bore you to tears. Either way, you won’t regret it.

Shapiro’s Round Table: The Moral and Ethical Decay of Major League Baseball

Posted 8 months ago Tagged

My first round table of 2020..and it’s a slobberknocker, folks.

Joining me to discuss the shame and humiliation of the broken national sports pastime that is Major League Baseball is acclaimed sportscaster and legendary TSN reporter Tony Ambrogio (@Tony_Ambrogio), country music star and Blue Jays blogger Chris Henderson (@baseball4brains), and former minor league basketball player and lawyer Mick Sloniowski.

Together we discussed: how to adequately deal with the hubris and hypocrisy of a sport gone to rot, what a suitable punishment should be for players directly involved with these shenanigans since 2017, why Rob Manfred is a pitiful excuse for a league commissioner, what MLB should do with advanced technology governing the extent of rampant greed in the sport, how Jose Altuve went from an inspirational human being to a bucket of second-grade used pine tar, and why the Houston Astros as an organization deserve a special place in baseball hell.

Don’t forget to subscribe to arishapiro.ca. and receive all my latest literary, audio and video content. Tonight’s round table was recorded on January 17th, 2020 and is proudly brought to you by: Cloudwifi (@cloudwifiInc) – a better kind of internet worth discovering!

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