Sports Legends of the Carolinas
Over nearly 30 years at The Charlotte Observer, columnist Scott Fowler has built an unparalleled rolodex of hardwood heroes, gridiron greats, hall-of-fame coaches, and sports media luminaries throughout the region. Now, thanks to access fans won’t get anywhere else, Fowler sits down with icons from the area — including Muggsy Bogues, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jay Bilas, and more — to hear the unfiltered, untold stories of their journeys to becoming Sports Legends of the Carolinas.
26
REBROADCAST: Mike Krzyzewski
Alex Zietlow interviews Coach Mike Krzyzewski, or Coach K.
61 min
27
Thomas Davis
Davis was the Panthers’ first-round draft choice in 2005 and played the next 14 years for the Panthers as a heat-seeking linebacker who was also a community servant off the field.
71 min
28
George Rogers
Now 64 years old, George Rogers and his wife, Brenda, live about 20 minutes from Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. A 13-foot statue of Rogers stands near the stadium.
35 min
29
Erin Matson
At age 22, only one month after graduation, Erin Matson was named the head coach of the very UNC team she had been starring for, replacing Karen Shelton.
36 min
30
Bobby Richardson
Bobby Richardson, this week’s star of “Sports Legends of the Carolinas,” was a notable New York Yankee who never really left his South Carolina hometown.
41 min
31
Bill Polian
Bill Polian made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015, honored as one of the NFL’s most extraordinary general managers.
52 min
32
Chris Paul
Chris Paul has done nearly everything there is to do on a basketball court--and now, he's written a book about his career.
27 min
33
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards, the former once-in-a-generation quarterback at Appalachian State, talks about the Mountaineers' colossal win over Michigan, “the darkest time in my football career" in the NFL, and his redemption in the CFL.
54 min
34
Mike Krzyzewski
Alex Zietlow interviews Coach Mike Krzyzewski, or Coach K.
61 min
35
Debbie Antonelli
52 min
36
Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon discusses his early days as a breakdancer (yes, seriously) and his rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr.
42 min
37
George Shinn
George Shinn, who conceived the Charlotte Hornets and brought the NBA to Charlotte, remains a busy man at age 81, although he now is out of the ownership business.
47 min
38
Tyler Hansbrough
Tyler Hansbrough talks about his favorite win at UNC and his new sports passion, which gets him more nervous than basketball ever did.
42 min
39
Cedric 'Cornbread' Maxwell
Cedric Maxwell discusses how he got the nickname “Cornbread,” the 49ers’ run to the Final Four, playing with Bird, the fight he got into with Charles Barkley and how he found out who his biological father was only a few years ago.
57 min
40
Greg Olsen
Greg Olsen, the former Pro Bowl tight end for the Carolina Panthers, and now celebrated color commentator on FOX, discusses Tom Brady; the upcoming Super Bowl; his son T.J.'s continued improvement after his heart transplant in 2021; and why Carolina’s loss to Denver in Super Bowl 50 still haunts him.
37 min
41
Bonus: Season 1 in Review
The Sports Legends team comes together to review the first season of the show.
62 min
42
Steph Curry
Steph Curry, the all-everything point guard for the Golden State Warriors, is already a “Sports Legend of the Carolinas.” In this deeply personal retrospective, Curry offers never-before-heard details about his high school career; leading Davidson College to the Elite Eight in 2008; the challenges for Curry of following in the NBA footsteps of his famous father, Dell; and the one thing that could get Curry to leave Golden State.
39 min
43
Roy Williams, Part 2
This week on “Sports Legends of the Carolinas,” legendary former UNC men’s head basketball coach Roy Williams talks about the fellow Tar Heel namesake for his son, Scott; his current role as a doting grandfather; and why it seemed like he never used those dadgum time outs.
21 min
44
Roy Williams, Part 1
This week on “Sports Legends of the Carolinas,” legendary former UNC men’s head basketball coach Roy Williams reflects on his sudden retirement, his rivalry with former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, and consoling Marcus Paige after the heartbreaking 2016 title game loss to Villanova.
43 min
45
Charlotte Smith, Part 2
Charlotte Smith, the all-time winningest coach at Elon University and hero of the 1994 NCAA title game for the University of North Carolina, looks back at the road to her “blessed place,” Elon; getting posterized in the movie Juwanna Mann; and the immense strength she has found in asking for help.
20 min
46
Charlotte Smith, Part 1
Charlotte Smith, the all-time winningest coach at Elon University and hero of the 1994 NCAA title game for the University of North Carolina, talks about overcoming fear to meet the moment on the court; the life-changing role of coaches off the court; and being a pioneering slam dunker in the women's game.
32 min
47
Jay Bilas, Part 2
Jay Bilas, ESPN’s 58-year-old leading college basketball analyst, talks about the toughest opponent he ever faced on the hardwood, and the leap of faith that made his broadcasting career a reality.
26 min
48
Jay Bilas, Part 1
Jay Bilas, ESPN’s leading college basketball analyst, talks about his start calling Duke basketball games for $200; his role today as, in many ways, the conscience of college basketball; and a highlight of Bilas' legal career: a courtroom battle with Barney the purple dinosaur.
34 min
49
Phil Ford, Part 2
Phil Ford, one of the best players in UNC basketball history, looks back at following in the footsteps of fellow "Sports Legend of the Carolinas" Charlie Scott; playing against other collegiate greats; and the loss he can't forget.
17 min
50
Phil Ford, Part 1
Phil Ford, one of the best players in UNC basketball history, looks back at being recruited by Dean Smith, making the Four Corners famous in Chapel Hill in the 1970s, and the injury and alcohol addiction that ended his NBA career.
28 min