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Pro wrestling is something that has its share of skeptics and believers. With its larger-than-life characters, its good versus evil battles, and unique storylines, it is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, along with movies and television. In this compilation episode, host Earl Holland talks with various guests about their love for interest in wrestling. Guest excerpts include: Brian Banks from Episode 7: Piledriver Kevin McGarrity and Mike Brittingham from Episode 20: Diamonds and Rings Diamond Holton from Episode 21: Pens and Words Mike Gordy from Episode 32: The Road Warrior Linwood Outlaw and Andre Watson from Episode 62: Dre and Wood’s Wrestling Adventure For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

The bond between a father and son is one of the strongest. Those relationships have been immortalized in various media such as music and movies. The lessons and stories passed down through the years are part of strengthening that relationship. In this episode, host Earl Holland Jr. sits down with his father, Earl Holland Sr., to discuss his experiences growing up and attending school during segregation; and why he served in the United States Marines. Earl Sr. will also share his thoughts on his beloved Oakland Raiders, why he doesn’t have a smartphone, and offer some advice to his son about being a new dad. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

It’s a celebration! Not only is it our 100th episode, but it is also time to talk about all things football-related ahead of the big game between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. In this episode, host Earl Holland does double duty with two football-themed interviews. The first with jersey aficionado Ben Penserga as they discuss the announcement of the rebranding of the former Washington Redskins into the new Washington Commanders. In the second half of the show, Holland talks with Tim “The Beard” Stewart of the “Awthentik and the Beard” sports podcast about sports betting and some of the prop bets often found in the Super Bowl. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Two-thousand twenty-one was a year of transition as many people were in the process of returning to a sense of normalcy following a pandemic-filled 2020 that drastically altered much of the way we lived. During the past year, it was also a time for good conversation with many of the guests who appeared on the Sports Refuge Podcast. In this episode, host Earl Holland shares excerpts of some of his favorite episodes from 2021 featuring interviews from guests including Vanessa Junkin, Kelly Cullen, Destiny Morgan Davis, Victoria Robinson and Scott Johnson, and Jenny Hopkinson. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Each summer, the village of Cooperstown, New York, transforms into a bustling city as it welcomes thousands of fans who visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum. This pilgrimage is due to the hall of fame's yearly enshrinement of its newest class of inductees. With the 2022 ballot including former players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Curt Schilling, the high-profile names are a who's who of controversy. As many of the players had a checkered history, the jury was out on whether they (and others) would earn their plaques. In this episode, host Earl Holland is joined by a panel of baseball fans who give their thoughts on what makes a hall of famer. The panelists will also opine on potential hall-worthy players no longer on the ballot in addition to sharing their unofficial Cooperstown ballot. Roundtable guests include Dave Hudson, Brandon Berns, Megan Kim, Veronica Day, Brandon Riggin, and Therran Dennis. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

With the National Football Conference’s playoff brackets set, the opportunity to hoist the George Halas Trophy and clinch a spot in Super Bowl LVI is up for grabs. Join host Earl Holland as he talks with fans of the teams competing for a spot in the “Big Game.” Fan representatives include: San Francisco 49ers fan Jeffrey Scott Philadelphia Eagles fan Tom Rader Arizona Cardinals fan Joseph Comeau Los Angeles Rams fan Donald Johnson Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan Byron Taylor Dallas Cowboys fan Quincy Peaker Green Bay Packers fan Hunter Quinn For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Seven teams vying for the AFC Championship and a shot at the Vince Lombardi trophy are ready for a lengthy playoff run. Which of the seven teams will be hoisting the Lamar Hunt Trophy and representing the AFC in Super Bowl LVI? Join host Earl Holland as he talks with fans of the teams competing for a spot in the “Big Game.” Fan representatives include: Pittsburgh Steelers fan Chris Weiss New England Patriots fan Terrence Blackwell Las Vegas Raiders fan David Elliot Cincinnati Bengals fan Rich Wills Buffalo Bills fan Scott Martino Kansas City Chiefs fan Keith Abbott Jr. Tennessee Titans fan Jason Bruce For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

As the National Football League added additional playoff spots in each of the conferences to expand postseason field. But even with the extra playoff spot, there were still teams that ended up missing out. In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fan representatives of the teams that just missed the cut in the NFC playoffs. The teams represented are: Minnesota Vikings: David Kraus New Orleans Saints: Amanda Gruss Washington Football Team: David Cabrera For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

With the addition of a playoff spot in the American Football Conference postseason, there were greater opportunities for teams to vie for a run at the Lamar Hunt and Vince Lombardi trophies. But even with the extra playoff spot, there were still teams that ended up missing out. In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fan representatives of the teams that just missed the cut in the AFC playoffs. The teams represented are: Baltimore Ravens: Mike Brittingham Denver Broncos: Lisa Burkhart Indianapolis Colts: Spenser Tilus Los Angeles Chargers: Greg Bassett Miami Dolphins: Brandon Berns For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Kristian Blake has always had a love for R&B music. But recently, he’s found a greater interest in more classical music styles such as jazz. For Blake, who performs with family members as part of a musical group “Klassic Soul,” his enthusiasm for music was put to the test at one point following an illness that left him without his voice for nearly a year. In this episode, Blake joins host Earl Holland to discuss fatherhood, his changing tastes in sports, and how his interest in jazz music grew. Blake will also offer his take on some of the most unpopular R&B opinions. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

“Ball is Life” is the perfect way to describe the devotion, obsession, and passion for the game of basketball. For many of the guests in this episode, their hardwood exploits tell the story of their basketball journeys, with many of their stories ranging from triumphs and great achievements to disappointments and cautionary tales of deferred dreams. Join host Earl Holland in this best-of-episode featuring some of his previous interviews as he talks basketball with a number of guests including: · Baltimore native Linwood Outlaw and a discussion about the NBA · Courtney Kief and how the former basketball star coached her alma mater to its first regional title since 1992 · Matthew Lang and his hoop dreams playing in the hotbed of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and the story of how he was a camp counselor for a future NBA star · Former prep star Dayona Godwin’s story of how the 2,000-point scorer became a key player at the Division I level as a walk-on · Paul Butler, former radio personality and TV newscaster, discussing what it was like to not only coach with his former high school coach Butch Waller but also being able to coach his own son at his alma mater · Brie Jackson, the White House reporter for Hearst News, sharing how her hoop dreams led to an opportunity to play at the University of Maryland · Greg Bozman’s passion for the game led to a journey playing for two Division I programs and, ultimately, coaching at the high school level. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

October has arrived, and it means more than just the change of weather and leaves falling from the trees. It’s also the final sprint of a months-long marathon of the Major League Baseball season, culminating with the World Series. From spring training to the dog days of summer and the final weekend, several teams were vying for a postseason ticket, with some able to make it and others ending up on the outside looking in. In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fans representing the teams in the postseason hunt as they discuss their team’s paths while giving their World Series predictions. They are as follows: · San Diego Padres - Tierra Murguia · Cincinnati Reds - Bobby Olsen · New York Mets - Brandon Berns · Philadelphia Phillies - Brian Banks · Oakland Athletics - Chris Posadas · Toronto Blue Jays - Phil Chinnery · Seattle Mariners - Edward Holland · St. Louis Cardinals - Willie Marx · Los Angeles Dodgers - Sergio Arambula · New York Yankees - Vinny Varadarajan · San Francisco Giants - Jon Hernandez · Houston Astros - Rich Swift · Milwaukee Brewers - Hunter Quinn · Tampa Bay Rays – Megan Kim · Atlanta Braves - David Kraus Who will be the one to take home the Commissioner’s Trophy? The race is on. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Sometimes, necessity is the mother of invention. That was the case when three friends — Willie Marx, Ben Stecker, and Michael Michaud ­­­— sought to fill a void with the loss of sports during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As leagues suspended their seasons and postseason tournaments were halted, the friends came up with an idea to not only but add a wrinkle to it with their own season-long historical fantasy sports league. In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with Marx, Stecker, and Michaud about how the three built their venture, Encore Fantasy Games, from the ground up and how their historical fantasy leagues work. The trio will also discuss the creative process and the growing pains they’ve seen with Encore Fantasy Games, their future aspirations for the website, and much more. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Jenny Hopkinson has two passions – journalism and ice hockey, both of which she became interested in at a young age. Starting out creating her own newspaper that she would distribute to family members, Hopkinson parlayed that into a decade-long career that included nearly five years at The Politico before ultimately stepping away from journalism a few years ago. Hopkinson’s on-ice exploits alternated over several periods of her life, including her youth, in college at the University of Maryland to the present as a member of the Washington Wolves C Team. In this episode, Hopkinson drops in to talk with host Earl Holland about her path in journalism, her departure from the medium, and what it’s like being a recovering journalist. Jenny also discusses her hockey influences, the relationships she’s been able to establish through the game while also giving her take on what makes the Olympics so great. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

While Donta Finney doesn’t follow a particular religion, he follows a philosophy of spiritual positivity. Born from his discipline in both martial arts, namely kar-do-Jitsu Ryu, and his background in weightlifting, he has blended the two in his career as a personal trainer. In this episode, Finney joins host Earl Holland to discuss his most recent experiences, including his return to his native Maryland following a three-year stint living in Florida. Finney also gives his thoughts on some of the most common misconceptions about martial arts, the importance of positive motivation, and much more. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Thomas Banks, Kristian Blake, and Korey Collick share a passion for R&B music, but that’s not all they share. They are also fathers, husbands, black men, and close friends of mine. In this episode, I talk with Thomas, Kristian, and Korey about recent events in their lives, their families, and life lessons and experiences. We’ll also discuss R&B music, what it’s like being a father, Kristian’s auditions for “The X Factor” and “The Voice,” and much more. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Running can be a painful endeavor if you ask Vanessa Junkin. The wear and tear Junkin accrued training for marathons has led to running injuries ranging from the traditional shin splints up to the fracture of her ribs. But one of Vanessa’s most painful experiences stemmed from being struck by a car while on an evening run late last year. In this episode, Junkin joins host Earl Holland to discuss that harrowing moment and how the rest of her 2020 running goals were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vanessa will also discuss her experiences as a journalist and how she found an interest in writing. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.

When Destiny Morgan Davis narrowed her choices for college, one of her options was a college in Florida, far away from her native Eastern Shore of Maryland. Ultimately, she opted to attend Wesley College in Delaware to pursue a major in sports management. Later on, Davis would eventually make her move to Florida in a much better place in her life. In this episode, Davis talks with host Earl Holland about her path from playing high school and college sports, pursuing a career in sports management, and ultimately, finding a passion for art and painting and having the opportunity to put her work on display. Davis also discusses her thoughts on her alma mater being acquired by Delaware State University, the importance of having good mental health, and more. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

In the heat of battle, the ones who are standing to your left and right are not just your battle buddies but your compatriots. During his days of playing in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge competition, Earl Holland competed alongside several teammates and eventual friends as they took part in the fast-paced battle of wits among members of 64 historically black colleges and universities. And as the years go by, the memories from those experiences remain, often as colorful as the instanced occurred. In this episode, Holland talks with a panel of former HCASC competitors from the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore’s academic team to talk about what led them to UMES, how they became part of the team, their memorable experiences playing at the National Championship Tournament, and more. Panelists include: Elden Hawkes, player (1996-2001) and coach (2002 to 2008) Mumbi Thandi-Kamiru, player (2000-2004) Matthew Lang, player (2000-2004) Janiece Blackmon, player (2003-2006) Mark DeMorra, player (2004-2007) Christina (Sutton) Junior, player (2005-2009) Fred Stephens, player (2005-2009) For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

When you think of summer, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it warm weather? Trips to the beach? Baseball games? What about sitting on the porch or deck with a nice cool drink? While all of those things are good examples, nothing best represents summer more than a cookout. In this episode, host Earl Holland takes the summer staple of the barbecue and transforms it into an all-out food free-for-all by implementing a fantasy draft. Guests taking part in the selection process include Jennifer Brannock-Cox, Charlie Cox, Sherice Holland, and Stephanie “Sunshine” Williams. Whose summer party would you end up attending? The only way to find out is by listening. Following the draft, our draft guru, Brad Wilkins, give his hard-hitting analysis and draft grades. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.