The JustIn Time Podcast with Justin Kutcher cover art

The JustIn Time Podcast with Justin Kutcher

The JustIn Time Podcast with Justin Kutcher

By: Justin Kutcher
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About this listen

 I've been lucky enough to spend my career in sports, become friends with people I used to watch on TV, and hear stories that people could only dream about! Now, those stories are coming to you as I interview athletes, coaches, and personalities I've worked with over the years. I hope you enjoy them as I much as I do.Justin Kutcher
Episodes
  • David Beckerman! Starter Founder on Joe Torre’s Jacket

    David Beckerman! Starter Founder on Joe Torre’s Jacket
    Dec 24 2025

    We’re joined by David Beckerman, the founder of the original Starter clothing company, for a behind-the-scenes conversation that explains how a small innovation turned into a sportswear revolution. We go all the way back to the early days: the first product tweak that actually solved a real problem, the first big orders, and the moment David realized he had something real.

    Then the story takes a turn that feels impossible to script: a chance connection leads to Joe Torre and the Mets staff wearing Starter gear, and suddenly fans are walking into stores asking for “the Yankees jacket with the star.” From there, we get the inside details on licensing, why being “authentic” on the field mattered, how the NFL finally opened up after years of rejection, and the cultural wave that followed, from coaches to music to film.

    If you grew up in the Starter era, this one is going to hit. Listen now and share it with the friend who still remembers that jacket.

    justin-kutchers-studio_david-ju…

    Timestamps:
    (00:00:00) - Welcome and why Starter mattered
    (00:00:24) - Introducing David Beckerman, founder of Starter
    (00:01:34) - Why he chose the name “Starter”
    (00:02:08) - The simple product fix that launched the company
    (00:03:44) - Pricing, selling, and the “fill-ins” problem
    (00:05:22) - Hatfields exclusive and the first real momentum
    (00:06:39) - Starting at 30 and the work ethic that shaped him
    (00:09:46) - Delaying the wedding to land a key sales deal
    (00:12:50) - Ruthanne’s impact and the early sacrifices
    (00:19:25) - Billy Martin, Joe Torre, and the booth moment
    (00:21:47) - Eight years of NFL rejection and the break-in
    (00:24:13) - The vintage Starter market today
    (00:26:17) - Parcells, Belichick, and the sideline visibility effect
    (00:28:06) - Spike Lee, style influence, and the “underground”
    (00:29:00) - Official vs authentic: the real branding shift
    (00:31:06) - Bobby Knight and the symbolism behind Starter
    (00:33:53) - The darker side: jackets, theft, and the midnight league
    (00:35:17) - Emmitt Smith, Florida ties, and TV exposure
    (00:38:26) - Music, movies, and Starter becoming “America”
    (00:40:44) - Foot Locker scale, risk, and the piggyback LC idea
    (00:47:12) - Royalties, league greed, and why deals changed
    (00:49:06) - Coaching at Hamden Hall and staying close to youth culture
    (00:55:47) - Brandon Knight, the recruiting room, and coaching stories
    (01:01:00) - “This Just In” rapid fire
    (01:02:41) - 1985 World Series trainer jacket moment
    (01:08:39) - The hole-in-one story and staying grounded
    (01:12:38) - Closing thoughts and gratitude

    Key Topics:
    Joe Torre Starter jacket story + Yankees cultural impact
    Sports licensing, royalties, and “official vs authentic” gear
    NFL sideline jackets, Parcells, Belichick, and visibility marketing
    80s-90s sportswear culture: music, film, and street style
    Entrepreneurship lessons: risk, distribution, and scaling demand
    Coaching and relationships: Hamden Hall, Pine Crest, Brandon Knight

    About David Beckerman:
    David Beckerman is the founder of the original Starter clothing company and a longtime basketball leader, including 30 years connected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. His work helped shape the era when authentic sideline and on-field apparel became part of American sports culture.

    ️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:
    The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As veteran broadcasters, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

    Subscribe now on any major platform to never miss an episode of these timeless conversations.

    #DavidBeckerman
    #StarterJackets
    #JoeTorre
    #SportsBusiness
    #90sSportsCulture
    #MLBHistory
    #TheJustInTimePodcast


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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Mark Gubicza! 2x All-Star on Bo Jackson and Mike Trout

    Mark Gubicza! 2x All-Star on Bo Jackson and Mike Trout
    Dec 17 2025

    Few athletes ever felt unreal in real time. Bo Jackson was one of them.

    We’re joined by Mark Gubicza, World Series champion, two-time MLB All-Star, and longtime voice of the Los Angeles Angels, for a conversation that pulls you straight into the clubhouse during one of the most electric eras in sports. Gubie shares his first encounter with Bo Jackson in a Royals uniform and why it immediately reset his understanding of what a human athlete could be.

    From lifting grown men off the ground like nothing, to moments that made even elite NFL players stop and stare, these are the kinds of stories that never show up in box scores. We also zoom out to talk legacy, including how players like Bo, George Brett, and Mike Trout shaped the way fans experience greatness, not through hype, but through presence.

    This is a behind-the-scenes conversation about dominance, humility, and the rare athletes who live forever in sports memory.

    Timestamps:
    (00:00:00) Welcome and setting the stage
    (00:05:12) Gubicza’s path to the big leagues
    (00:11:08) Royals clubhouse culture in the 80s
    (00:18:44) Playing around future Hall of Famers
    (00:36:02) Winning a World Series and expectations
    (00:45:18) First impression of Bo Jackson
    (00:47:05) Why football players feared Bo
    (00:51:01) The myth vs reality of Bo Jackson
    (00:56:20) How legends are remembered
    (01:01:10) Why stories like these still matter

    Key Topics:
    Bo Jackson as a once-in-a-generation athlete
    Inside the Royals clubhouse during baseball’s golden era
    What separates dominance from legend
    How athletes earn lifelong respect from peers
    Sports stories that live beyond statistics

    About Mark Gubicza:
    Mark Gubicza is a World Series champion and two-time MLB All-Star who transitioned from a standout pitching career into one of baseball’s most respected broadcast voices with the Los Angeles Angels. His perspective bridges generations of the game, from legends of the past to today’s stars.

    ️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:
    The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As a veteran broadcaster, Justin Kutcher delivers unfiltered discussions with legendary athletes, coaches, and voices of the game, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and human moments you won’t hear anywhere else.

    Subscribe on your favorite platform to never miss an episode.

    #MarkGubicza
    #BoJackson
    #MLBStories
    #SportsLegends
    #TheJustInTimePodcast


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Dustin Fox! National Champion on Miami, Michigan and Tressel

    Dustin Fox! National Champion on Miami, Michigan and Tressel
    Dec 10 2025
    Dustin Fox joins us for a conversation that feels like sitting in a film room and a locker room at the same time. A four year starter at Ohio State and a 2002 national champion, Dustin walks us through the wild recruiting tug of war between Penn State and Ohio State, what it meant to become Jim Tressel’s first commit, and how that decision changed his life. We revisit the 2003 Fiesta Bowl in detail, from the controversial pass interference call to Willis McGahee’s dominance and the hit that left Dustin concussed while still playing the game of his life. Along the way, we get family stories that go back to the 1968 Buckeye title team, real talk about being a “white corner” targeted by offenses, and an unforgettable look at the Ohio State Michigan rivalry from someone who went 3 and 1 in The Game. We even end up in sneakerhead territory with Jordan 5s, Concord 11s, and a Michael Jordan dinner story you will not forget. If you love college football history and honest locker room perspective, this one is for you. Timestamps: (00:00:01) - Justin introduces Dustin Fox, their broadcast connection and the “Justin and Dustin” show idea(00:03:46) - Buckeye bloodlines, family athletic freaks and how two uncles captained Ohio State together(00:10:31) - Penn State vs Ohio State recruiting tug of war and secretly committing to Joe Paterno(00:15:30) - Jim Tressel’s legendary “310 days” speech and the phone call that flipped Dustin back to Ohio State(00:18:19) - First visit with Tressel, the Winner’s Manual and big brother saying “it’s a no brainer”(00:23:14) - Freshman year reality, moving to corner and never coming off the field again(00:26:34) - Building toward 2002, Holy Buckeye at Purdue and surviving tight games against Illinois and Michigan(00:32:07) - Scouting Miami’s loaded roster and being the “weak link” white corner they planned to pick on(00:38:19) - Remembering where fans were for the Fiesta Bowl and the setup to the pass interference debate(00:40:24) - Breaking down the 2003 PI call, Big 12 crew review and why Dustin still says it was the right call(00:42:00) - Meeting referee Terry Porter years later and hearing about death threats and fallout from that game(00:45:06) - Corner blitz, Willis McGahee’s hit of a lifetime and playing the rest of the title game concussed(00:52:01) - Joining his uncles as national champions and how the family bond has evolved over the years(00:54:36) - Life in Ohio after the title, being recognized in Cleveland and how Buckeyes fill the pro championship void(00:56:57) - Why some fans value beating Michigan over national titles and Dustin’s take on that mindset(01:01:02) - What it actually feels like to play in The Game and going 3 and 1 against Michigan(01:04:15) - Sneaker wall tour, first pair of Jordans and the nostalgia of Fire Red 5s(01:07:10) - Concord 11s, Michael Jordan’s favorite shoe and an MJ dinner story straight from Justin(01:12:27) - Favorite players growing up and why Kirby Puckett, Walter Payton and Jordan meant so much(01:13:08) - Best teammate Mike Doss and what true leadership and confidence looked like at Ohio State(01:14:30) - Best opponent Willis McGahee and why Dustin calls him a different species(01:18:49) - Being a white corner, combine stories and Michigan’s “calf check” audibles to attack him(01:23:10) - Rapid fire wraps up and Dustin reflects on why it is still special to revisit what that team accomplished Key Topics: Dustin Fox’s Ohio State recruiting journey, Jim Tressel’s pitch and flipping from Penn StateInside the 2002 national championship run, Holy Buckeye and beating a Miami Hurricanes dynastyThe truth behind the 2003 Fiesta Bowl pass interference call and meeting referee Terry PorterWillis McGahee’s dominance, the hit that concussed Dustin and what elite speed really looks likeLiving as a “white corner” in major college football and how offenses tried to attack himBuckeye family legacy, the Ohio State Michigan rivalry and how titles change life back home About Dustin Fox: Dustin Fox is a former Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back, four year starter and key member of the 2002 BCS national championship team. After college, he went on to play in the NFL before transitioning into broadcasting as a longtime Cleveland radio host and ESPN analyst. His perspective blends on field experience in some of the biggest games in college football history with years of media work covering the sport for passionate fans. ️ About the JustIn Time Podcast: The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As veteran broadcasters, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind the scenes stories you will not hear anywhere else. Subscribe now on any major platform to never miss an episode of these timeless conversations. #DustinFox#...
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    1 hr and 26 mins
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