Number 89

NFL great Steve Smith Sr. joins the show to talk about how he turned a negative into a positive with the number 89. He also shares how he was able to add “Sr.” to his jersey (it’s more complicated than you think), what’s he’s had to learn as an NFL analyst, how he’s helping his community in Charlotte and, like the rest of us, he wonders what’s going on in Jacksonville.  All that and late-breaking number news, Screen Stars, the Hall of Shame, the Hall of Fame and more.

Our Guest
Steve Smith Sr. is one of the most prolific NFL receivers of the past 20 years. He played 16 seasons for the Panthers & Ravens and was a 5X Pro Bowl selection and 3X All-Pro. He practically owns the Panthers’ record books as their all-time leader in TDs, receptions and receiving yards and is a member of the team’s Hall of Honor. He’s also in the NFL’s Top 10 for career All-Purpose Yards and Receiving Yards. Since he retired after the 2016 season he’s moved to the NFL Network where you can see him on Thursday Night Football coverage as well as NFL Total Access. Steve remains active in his community as well through the Steve Smith Family Foundation.

1:18 – “It’s baseball number news, regarding the number 89.”
As luck would have it our Number News segment fits our number in question. Rudy details the exploits of the first player to wear #89 in MLB history.

3:47 – “It’s interesting. In college I wore 7, so I wanted 87."
Future Hall of Famer Steve Smith Sr. joins us to talk about the number he never wanted, #89.

19:05 – “Well, let’s dive into it.”
Having already discussed baseball, Tom and Rudy talk about all-time great #89’s in football, hockey, basketball and a NASCAR entry.

27:03 – “We’ve got some good guys in here, man!”
Screen Stars. Actors wearing #89 in movies and TV:

1. Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid (1984) 
2. Fred Dryer as Rick Hunter in Hunter (1984-1991) 
3. Terry Crews in The Longest Yard remake that never happened. 

30:15 – “We have a guy who checks all of those boxes.”
The Derrick Rose Award (great careers ruined by circumstance) retells the sad story of NFL WR David Boston. We also discuss Hall of Shamer’s Rae Carruth, Brian Blades and his lawyer (who we can only assume is Perry Mason) and the forgettable career of JK McKay and his connection to the Ol’ Ball Coach.

34:30 – “Let’s jump into the Heat Check.”
These are people who are still playing and vying for a spot someday on the Hall of Fame list.

1. Marcedes Lewis 
2. Pavel Buchnevich 
3. Tyler Higbee 
4. Mark Andrews 
5. Mikkel Boedker 
6. Vance McDonald 
7. Sam Gagner 
8. Alex Tuch 

37:10  – “Let’s go for it.”
The Hall of Fame List:

1.      Gino Marchetti 
2a.    Mike Ditka 
2b.    Steve Smith, Sr. 
4.      Alexander Mogilny 
5.      Dave Robinson 

Our thanks to Baltimore Ravens SVP Chad Steele for helping us with Steve Smith Sr. You can see Chad during the Super Bowl usually towering over the MVP.