Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

In Part 2, host Mark continues his in-depth conversation with Harv Aronson of Total Sports Recall, diving deeper into the dominance of 1970s sports dynasties. The discussion highlights how legendary teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys were built through scouting and late-round NFL Draft picks rather than first-round hype, with figures like Gil Brandt and Bill Nunn identifying hidden talent from small colleges.

The episode also revisits Super Bowl XIII, Tony Dorsett’s explosive performance, and the enduring Cowboys–Steelers Super Bowl rivalry, including reflections on Super Bowl XXX and how quarterback play shaped championship outcomes.

The conversation expands into Olympic history and 1970s sports culture, covering the controversial 1972 USA men’s basketball loss, the brilliance of Mark Spitz, and the unforgettable USA boxing team of the 1976 Olympics featuring Sugar Ray Leonard and Leon Spinks.

Mark and Harv also reflect on boxing’s golden era, from Ali vs. Frazier and the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, examining why the 1970s and 1980s produced some of the greatest fighters in sports history.

Closing out the episode, the hosts compare the dominance of 1970s MLB teams like the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland A’s, and Pittsburgh Pirates with today’s era of parity, while reminiscing about classic TV programs like ABC’s Wide World of Sports and the communal experience of watching big events before DVR and streaming existed.

For fans of 1970s sports history, classic NFL rivalries, Olympic controversy, and boxing’s golden age, this episode delivers a compact but powerful look at a transformative era in American sports.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Yesterday’s Sports on the Sports History Network, host Mark Morthier sits down with Pittsburgh native Harv Aronson of Total Sports Recall (part of the Sports History Network) to explore what it was like growing up as a sports fan in the 1970s.

Harv shares how his writing and podcasting journey evolved into a curated portfolio of sports history content, while both hosts reflect on a childhood defined by neighborhood pick-up games, transistor radios, limited TV channels, and the freedom that shaped a generation of lifelong fans.

The conversation centers on defining sports moments that fueled Harv's passion, including the 1971 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles, sparked by watching Roberto Clemente homer, and the legendary 1972 “Immaculate Reception.”

From celebrating the Pirates’ championship to listening to Steelers games on the radio due to NFL blackout rules, the episode captures the raw excitement of 1970s baseball and football fandom.

Mark and Harv close by comparing the physical, defense-driven NFL of the 1970s to today’s game, revisiting the iconic Steelers–Cowboys Super Bowl rivalry and the dominance of franchises like Pittsburgh, Dallas, Miami, and Oakland.

For listeners searching for 1970s sports nostalgia, Steelers history, Pirates history, and classic NFL rivalries, this episode delivers a focused look at how a golden era of sports shaped a generation of fans.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

The final episode of the Hall of Fame series is recorded during Super Bowl week and opens with Dave describing his Super Bowl jackets, patches, and pins, including favorites from Super Bowls VI, X, XIII, and a rare press pin from Super Bowl XXX. The conversation reflects on collecting, nostalgia, and how memorabilia represents personal memories more than monetary value, while also reinforcing that Hall of Fame induction is limited and that not getting in doesn’t erase a player’s greatness.

The discussion then shifts to football nostalgia and how the game has changed, touching on extreme cold-weather games like the Bengals–Chargers “freezer” game, Kenny Anderson’s performance, and concerns about moving future playoff games indoors. They contrast today’s Super Bowl—dominated by commercials, halftime shows, and nonstop media—with earlier eras when the focus was strictly on the game, before closing with lighthearted talk about old episodes, short-form clips, and plans for future shows.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)