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.
1
Luke Kuechly
Luke Kuechly retired early from the NFL, at age 28 in January 2020. In this conversation, he talked about the reasons behind his surprise retirement, as well as about his old Carolina teammates like Cam Newton, his love for bowhunting and what he'd like to do next in his life.
45 min
2
Heather O'Reilly
A three-time Olympic gold medalist, Heather O’Reilly was also one of the all-time greats at one of the all-time greatest dynasties in college sports -- the UNC women’s soccer team.
44 min
3
Rick Hendrick
Rick Hendrick is an ultra-successful businessman in the automotive world and a NASCAR hall of famer.
38 min
4
Jim Nantz
Jim Nantz sat with us in Greensboro, NC where he was broadcasting a golf tournament. We spoke about his family, the time he called a Super Bowl featuring the Carolina Panthers and the origin story about why he opens every telecast with the phrase “Hello friends.”
41 min
5
Mack Brown
Mack Brown, the oldest head coach in college football’s top division, won a national championship at Texas and has taken UNC to a bowl game in each of the five years since his return to Chapel Hill prior to the 2019 season.
37 min
6
Julius Peppers
Julius Peppers is one of the rare athletes to have played in both the Super Bowl and the Final Four, and he thinks he could have been an NBA player if he pursued that avenue.
36 min
7
Cullen Jones
Cullen Jones owns two gold medals and two silver medals from the Olympics, where he competed for Team USA in both 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London.
32 min
8
Jerry Moore
In North Carolina’s mountains, a football coach named Jerry Moore led Appalachian State to new heights two decades ago.
47 min
9
Stan Smith
Stan Smith also played during the heyday of Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King and offers thoughts on each of those tennis icons.
47 min
10
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson is, without question, one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. Three drivers rank at the very top of the all-time NASCAR Cup series champion standings, each with seven season titles apiece. They are Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Johnson.
34 min
11
REBROADCAST: Muggsy Bogues
Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player ever to play in the NBA at 5-foot-3, reflects on his experience being shot as a child; the neighborhood recreation center Bogues says changed his life; and whether or not he really could dunk.
41 min
12
REBROADCAST: Dell Curry
While Dell Curry is now known in public mostly for being the father of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry, he had his own stellar NBA career.
40 min
13
Muhsin Muhammad
As the NFL Draft approaches, the Carolina Panthers can only hope to hit a second-round home run like they did with Muhsin Muhammad.
51 min
14
REBROADCAST: Dawn Staley
Dawn Staley, who has had one of the most sensational careers in women’s basketball history, looks back at her road to South Carolina; the possibility of someday coaching in the NBA; and why her former players think she's going soft.
38 min
15
Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning would have become the greatest player in Charlotte Hornets history — if he had only stuck around.
38 min
16
Leonard Hamilton
Leonard Hamilton, the longest-serving active head basketball coach in the ACC, grew up in a segregated society in North Carolina.
67 min
17
Bobby Cremins
After 31 years as a college basketball head coach, Bobby Cremins now lives in Hilton Head, S.C.
57 min
18
Richard Petty
Richard Petty serves as the Season 3 kickoff for the “Sports Legends of the Carolinas.”
45 min
19
Steve Spurrier
Known as an offensive mastermind, Steve Spurrier has deep connections to both Carolinas
45 min
20
REBROADCAST: 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
21
REBROADCAST: 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
22
Dell Curry
While Dell Curry is now known in public mostly for being the father of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry, he had his own stellar NBA career.
40 min
23
REBROADCAST: 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
24
Tommy Burleson
Tommy Burleson was the literal centerpiece of one of the best college basketball teams in the history of the Carolinas — the 1974 N.C. State Wolfpack.
46 min
25
REBROADCAST: Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon discusses his early days as a breakdancer (yes, seriously) and his rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr.
42 min