The Dugout Sports Show
Circa 2011

The Dugout Sports Show
We Are Cleveland Sports
This was the Dugout Sports Show's website from 2008-2011.
Content is from the site's 2011 archived pages.

As an avid sports fan, Glenn brings a unique voice to the radio as host of the The Dugouts Sports Show, on the Morning Show Central Radio Network. Hailing from Cleveland, he was brought up on sports, being a fan of Cleveland sports and Ohio State University athletics. But his love for the game doesn’t just stop in Cleveland. It spans the nation, as an interest in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and all NCAA sports. But his knowledge for sports doesn’t just stop there. He can quickly turn the subject around to golf, NASCAR, tennis, and professional wrestling. Whatever the sport is, he has indepth knowledge and opinion.

After graduating Aurora High School, he went to the University of Toledo, where he studied broadcasting for one year. He has covered softball for local Northeast Ohio newspapers and now writes sports stories on Bleacherreport.com, a sports story networking website. He also coaches freshmen baseball for a local high school and still plays competitive baseball during the summer in the Cleveland area.

As host of The Dugout Sports Show, Glenn hopes to make his opinion known, but also give both sides of the story.

 

 

As a backend developer for The Dugout Sports Show, I'm incredibly proud of the work we accomplished. Our system handled an impressive amount of player statistics and fantasy football data, allowing us to provide up-to-the-minute information for our passionate audience. The show's coverage of NFL, MLB, NBA, and NCAA sports required a robust database that could handle complex queries and rapid updates.

Working on this project was a dream come true for a sports enthusiast like myself. I particularly enjoyed developing the algorithms that powered Kate's Fantasy Studs and Duds segment, which required intricate analysis of player performance across multiple metrics. The challenge of processing and presenting data for emerging talents like Doug Baldwin was always exciting. One of my favorite aspects was designing the backend for our college football coverage. Tracking the rankings, scores, and performance metrics for teams across different conferences was a complex but rewarding task. I still remember the satisfaction of successfully implementing the system that allowed Christopher Williams to generate his insightful "5 Things I Think" column each week.

My only complaint was the need to use Microsoft Access for data management, which kept having issues with our more modern applications - it is obsolete and no longer supported. When I finally succeeded in convincing my bosses to provide a modern Microsoft Access alternative - see this - my life became so much easier and I was able to quickly solve many of the issues that previously held me back. The Dugout Sports Show was more than just a job; it was a passion project that combined my love for sports and technology. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to such a popular program, and while I'm sad it's no longer on air, the memories and experiences will stay with me forever. The show's legacy lives on in the hearts of its many fans, and I'm proud to have played a part in bringing sports analysis and fantasy insights to our dedicated audience.  [Jake Sherman]

 

 

Kate’s Fantasy Studs and Duds from Week 5

Posted by Kate Arhar on October 13th, 2011

Congratulations! You have survived the first of the Bye Weeks! Win or lose, you are still checking out players and working on your team and that’s all you can do at this point in the season. Don’t fear 0-5 owners – there are still many weeks to come and you can always go on a run and make the playoffs in your league. Smart pickups are the key to the Bye Weeks – and taking advantage of other owners who have lineup troubles of their own!

Fantasy Studs: Week 5

+20 Ben Roethlisberger QB – Damn you Big Ben! I left him on my bench for moral reason and that is no way to win a FFL game – plus his numbers have not been great and he had an injury that could have been problematic. And yet he lights it up. Wow.

Green-Ellis had a big week for fantasy players last week.

+20 BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB – owners are finally seeing big numbers out of BJGE. It’s taking him a while to hit his groove, but he should be tearing it up for the rest of the season.

+18 Pierre Garcon WR – as Curtis Painter gets more comfortable as the starter in Indianapolis, Garcon gets more and more looks and just keeps scoring. He’s a better option than Wayne and Clark has been nonexistent so far in the “Painter Era.”

+16 Doug Baldwin WR – Wait, who? Doug Who? Yeah, that’s right – undrafted guy picked up by Seattle is starting to come into his own. Keep an eye on him and grab him up if you have DBowe, EDecker, NWashington or anyone else on a Bye this week.

Honorable Mentions:
Joel Dreessen (TE – HOU), Victor Cruz (WR – NYG) both scored 14 points over their projected numbers. Available in almost all leagues, these are guys that could help you out this week.

Fantasy Duds: Week 5

-17 Kevin Kolb QB – How do you have Larry Freaking Fitzgerald and score a whopping 4 in most FFL leagues? Dude needs to be dropped. Now. Sorry “Corn on the Kolb” fans.

-17 Kyle Orton QB – You can hold on to him, but word out of Denver is that Tim Tebow will be getting the start in week 8. They are on a Bye this week, so if you need to drop someone to make roster room, Orton is your guy.

Josh Freeman didn't exactly set the world on fire last week.

-16 Josh Freeman QB – Yet another QB letting us down. Tampa Bay is mediocre at best but Freeman has been putting up good numbers – until this week. I’d hold on to him but watch the matchups and keep another option on your bench.

Dishonorable Mentions:
Rashard Mendenhall (Pit) -13 For the second straight week, RM has been a bust. I’m done with him. Pick up Isaac Redmen or Mewelde Moore for all I care, but you need to cut Mendenhall loose.

Injury Report: not looking good for any of these guys to see field time this week. Better check the waiver wire for their back-ups.
ATL Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones
IND Joseph Addaie
DET Tony Scheffler
NYG Brandon Jacobs
WAS Chris Cooley, Tim Hightower
HOU Andre Johnson (check out Derrick Mason as a replacement)
ORL Devery Henderson
TB LeGarrette Blount

May all of your Fantasy (Football) dreams come true!

 

 

Williams: 5 Things I Think After Week 6 (CFB)

Posted by Christopher Williams on October 12th, 2011

422-119. That’s the margin by which the teams in the top ten won in Week 6, three of whom playing teams ranked in the top 17. Once again, the polls were released and the AP and Coaches Poll are very different; only three teams’ positions in the top ten are agreed upon (Wisconsin [4], Clemson [8], and Oregon [9]) with the Coaches Poll having a different beginning and ending of the top ten than the AP.

For the first time this season (and since 1982), there are no teams from Florida in the AP top 25. Case Keenum and the Houston Cougars make their debut in both polls after moving to 6-0 by beating ECU 56-3 (they held the Pirates to fewer points than any other team this season including South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina). A preseason top-six team (in both polls) lost to the smallest school (by student population) in a BCS Conference; that’s right Desmond Howard’s pick to play for a title, Florida State, lost again; only this time to Wake Forest.

1. Any chance Tennessee had of winning the SEC East … is gone. Let’s face it, they didn’t have a big chance anyway, but Tyler Bray gave them whatever chance they did have. Bray is out up to six weeks with a broken thumb on his left hand and now the Volunteers are in a position in which they may be struggling for bowl eligibility. They’re 3-2 (0-2 in the conference and both losses are to SEC East teams), and they need three more wins to become eligible. They’re next three games, with no bye week between any of them, are against LSU, at Alabama, and South Carolina! That will likely put them at 3-5 and require them to win three of their last four games. One of them is at Arkansas; we’ll count that as a loss. Now they have to beat Middle Tennessee after the loss to South Carolina (win), Vanderbilt (if Bray is back, likely a win), and at Kentucky (likely a win). That’s cutting it close. Matt Simms will be starting in Bray’s absence and Justin Worley’s who was likely to redshirt, probably won’t be able to now because he’ll be the backup. Matt Simms has the lineage (his father is Super Bowl Champion Phil Simms, and his brother played at Texas and is on the Titans’ roster), but he struggled last season with turnovers (both fumbles and interceptions). He’ll look worse than he really is these next two weeks going against the Tiger and Tide defenses. I don’t envy Volunteer Nation.

2. It’s easy to talk about the undefeated teams, but … so rarely do we look at the bottom dwellers. With conference realignment becoming a big topic and a couple of BCS conferences looking into adding schools from “lesser” conferences, I wanted to look at the teams that are currently at the bottom of these “superior” conferences. There aren’t any winless teams in the BCS conferences, however there are six one-win teams. Three of them (Indiana, Boston College, and Arizona) only have wins against FCS teams. Two of them (Minnesota and Oregon State) won against an FBS team (Oregon State’s is against the aforementioned Arizona), but have a loss to an FCS team. Only Colorado’s win is against an FBS team (albeit Colorado State) and no losses to FCS teams. There are nine two-win teams, at least one from every BCS conference. Three of them have losses to non-BCS schools (Ole Miss, Connecticut, and Maryland), Miami lost to one of those three (Maryland), three of them had relatively close calls against non-BCS schools (Missouri, Kentucky, and Utah). The last two are Kansas and Northwestern; the Jayhawks have allowed 40+ points (and 60+ twice) in all of their games except their unimpressive 18-point win against McNeese State while the Wildcats owe one of their wins to the aforementioned one-win Boston College and have a loss to Army. Over the next few weeks and months, we’re going to hear names like Houston, SMU, Central Florida, and Boise State etc. being thrown out as possible candidates to join a BCS conference. Let’s not dismiss them just because our team plays for one of them because let’s face it, all of our “superior” conferences have teams that aren’t all that impressive already.

3. Auburn fans, don’t let the media mess with your head. The media wants the next Cam Newton as much as you do, but let’s not get crazy. Media outlets and blogs and website article comments are exploding with the suggestion/demand that Auburn should start Kiehl Frazier after losing to Arkansas this week. Let’s look at the facts: the Tigers are 4-2 (did anyone envision that going into the season?) with both of their losses being to teams currently ranked in the top ten, they’ve already beaten a team they, at least on paper, realistically shouldn’t have in South Carolina, and they haven’t lost to anyone that they should have beaten. They had a close call against Utah State, but Oklahoma did the same thing last year, we’ll call that the first week jitters. Frazier has thrown four passes in his career folks and two of them were completed by Razorbacks! Why start Frazier when he’s doing just fine as a change-of-pace guy right now (remember how the media-beloved Tim Tebow started his college career)? This week Auburn is playing against a banged up Florida team that has consistently been weak against the run — that’s your team’s strength! Dyer, McCalebb, and even Frazier will be able to be successful. Why add the pressure of Frazier having to read defenses, something he’s clearly not great at yet. Don’t let the hype over No. 2 last year, turn into a knee-jerk demand for Frazier to start just because he’s an athletic run-first “quarterback”. If you’re determined to let him get a start, let him start Week 9 against Ole Miss or Week 12 against Samford to get his proverbial feet wet.

Joe Bauserman didn't have the greatest of days passing the ball vs. Nebraska.

4. My Buckeyes exceeded expectations on Saturday. I said that Nebraska wouldn’t win by the eleven-point spread I saw last week, but I didn’t expect my Buckeyes to lead for most of the game. I also said they couldn’t win if they didn’t make Taylor Martinez beat them with his arm instead of his legs and unfortunately, he ran for 102 yards and a score. Braxton Miller showed poise in his second conference game, something we hadn’t quite seen yet (and quite honestly, something he wasn’t availed the opportunity to display in the Michigan State game due to Fickell inexplicably pulling him out of the game). The turning point, in my view, was the forced fumble on Miller with a little over eight minutes to go in the game in their own red zone (which Taylor Martinez ran in for a score two plays later). A lot of analysts pointed to Miller’s injury a little under the five-minute mark as being the turning point, and I certainly agree that it was a contributing factor, but I think the fumble a few minutes beforehand that led to the touchdown was a tad more significant because it put the game within two scores. The momentum shifted, and it shifted even stronger in the Huskers direction when Miller went down. Nebraska’s defensive mentality changed after Bauserman came in; they sat back in coverage, and rushed four with a linebacker spying the running back. They knew Bauserman was no threat to run (Miller ran for 95 yards), so they just let him throw it into coverage (which explains his 1 for 10 outing). Field position then fell in the Huskers favor and the Buckeye defense had less time on the sidelines. I was unhappy that they lost, but I am proud of their progress — from nearly losing to Toledo to nearly beating the Huskers in a month’s time.

5. I knew it would happen … points lost because of potential feelings hurt. I’ve always been against the “excessive celebration” portion of the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty; but when they changed the rule this past offseason to make it a live-ball foul that could take points away, in my view, the NCAA lost their mind. It’s 4th and 15 at LSU’s 48 yard line (after two penalties that moved them back 10 yards) and the Tigers line up for a punt. As the punter catches the ball and is about to go into his motion, it’s obvious there’s absolutely no one on the left side of the field, so he tucks the ball and runs in that direction. At about the 8-yard line, he turns his waist towards the mob of players running in his direction and spreads his arms as if to say, “You’re close enough to see me, but not close enough to catch me!”, and then runs it into the end zone. He gets called for unsportsmanlike conduct, which is a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, and the officials take the points off the board and place the ball on the 23-yard line (first down). How dare a player celebrate making a fool of a team on a fake punt! Wow. I realize it’s the rule, and everyone must follow it, that doesn’t make the rule any good. They’re taking away points that are earned fairly because someone’s feelings might get hurt. That’s ridiculous. Their feelings should be hurt! They just got fooled on a fake punt, called by a coach who notoriously goes for it on 4th down (sometimes even during illogical circumstances), and executed by a freshman punter from Australia who ran over 40 yards untouched to the end zone.

Bonus: With all the scandals of the offseason, in a particular the Miami booster fiasco, the phrase “death penalty” has been thrown around a lot. I think this will be the closest any team has will ever get to the death penalty that SMU received in the late 80’s. It got me thinking about SMU’s turnaround of late. They played in a bowl game last year, that they should have won, in my view. In week five they knocked off #20 TCU and are sitting 4-1 and tied in first in the West division of Conference USA. They may even end up being recruited to join one of the BCS conferences. I wanted to share a little-known fact about the SMU Mustangs and those years surrounding the death penalty. We’ve all heard of Craig James and Eric Dickerson from that era. But a man named Reginald Ballard played on that team and was one of the many players looking for a new school to play for when the Mustangs’ 1987 season was cancelled by the NCAA. You may not recognize his name right off, but you may remember him as “Bruh Man” on Martin Lawrence’s sitcom Martin.

 

 

FWAA: Nebraska is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 12th, 2011

Taylor Martinez led Nebraska to a come-from-behind win over Ohio State.

NEBRASKA IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - Storming from behind to register the biggest comeback in school history allowed the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) to earn the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 8.

Nebraska recorded its first Big Ten win, 34-27, over Ohio State, rallying from a 27-6 deficit in the third quarter to win before a NCAA-record 315th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium on Homecoming.

The game turned on Lavonte David’s fumble recovery that provided a short field for Nebraska, which scored two plays later to get within 27-13. Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead each ran for more than 100 yards, with Burkhead providing the game-winning touchdown on a 17-yard burst with 5:10 left. Martinez finished with two touchdown passes among his season-high 16 completions, one of the a 30-yarder to Burkhead that tied the score with 7:44 to play.

“I thought we left some drives out there. We stayed the course,” Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said after the game. “That’s kind of the motto of our program. It’s about the culture, it’s about the process, about staying the course. There was no panic. I’m proud of how they came out and played the second half.”

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 8 included:

Oklahoma (5-0): The Sooners shut down arch-rival Texas, scoring three defensive touchdowns along the way in a 55-17 rout in Dallas. Oklahoma scored the first four times it had the ball and led 34-10 at the half. It was the most-lopsided margin of victory in the series since 2003.

Wake Forest (4-1): The Demon Deacons moved to 3-0 for the first time during their 59-year membership in the ACC after a 35-30 upset win over Florida State. Wake Forest forced five turnovers and held off a Seminoles rally in the fourth quarter.

The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the seventh season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor. Each remaining Monday during the 2011 college football regular season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week.

Founded in 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted seven games that have decided the college football national championship, including four Bowl Championship Series title games. This season, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be played on Jan. 2, 2012, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 30, 2011, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

 

~~~

My take: My father was an avid football fan of the Western Athletic Conference teams. Arizona State was his alma mater. I think he watched every Fiesta Bowl since its inception in the 1970's. It was a Christmas Day afternoon activity much to my mother's chagrin. When the game shifted to New Years Day my father still watched although he would be heavily hung over from the previous night's celebration. By the 1980's the Fiesta Bowl was a must watch bowl particularly after the 1987 and 1989 games which were two of four straight matchups of teams ranked in the AP Top 10 going into the bowl season to close out the 1980s. Those two years' games significantly increased the Fiesta Bowl's prestige, to the point that it was now considered a major bowl by many fans and pundits. I remember the scandals that embroiled the Fiesta Bowl in 2009 and 2010. I wonder what my father would have thought when the name was changed to the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl when Playstation started to sponsor it. We still refer to it as the Fiesta Bowl. In 2019 the game was officially known as the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Please! Fiesta Bowl is just fine thank you very much.

~~~

 

30 Minutes With Pure Rage Chris Perez – Episode 3 – King Tut, What If Lockout, Pure Rage Circus

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 12th, 2011

You can listen to “30 Minutes With Pure Rage” every Monday and Wednesday at 6 P.M. EST. You will be able to join the chat room and call in as well. Make sure to tweet out the show and use the hashtag #30PureRage.

Episode 3 - 10.12.11

Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez and I talked about everything from what if there was a MLB strike to King Tut on Wednesday’s edition of “30 Minutes With Pure Rage, heard only on TheDugoutSportsShow.com. Chris commented on a couple former Indians playing well for the Tigers this postseason and how we shouldn’t go back and say “we shouldn’t make that trade”. He also talked about Theo Epstein going to the Cubs and how much of a surprise that was.

 

 

30 Minutes With Pure Rage - Episode 3

Chris took a couple phone calls and answered a few voicemails as well. He then answered a call about King Tut, which gave a few laughs to the audience listening. We also talked MLB playoffs, and said his World Series prediction is Rangers vs. Brewers.

We ended the show talking about Chris’ terrible NFL picks this week.

 

FWAA: Oklahoma’s Jamell Fleming is Nagurski Player of the Week

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 12th, 2011

DALLAS (FWAA) – Oklahoma cornerback Jamell Fleming has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 8.

Fleming, a 5-11, 191-pound senior from Arlington, Texas, had a career-high 13 tackles in Oklahoma’s decisive 55-17 victory over rival Texas in Dallas. He also returned a fumble 56 yards for a touchdown and forced a fumble. The touchdown was one of three defensive touchdowns scored by the Sooners. Eleven of Fleming’s tackles were unassisted and two went for three yards in losses.

Fleming is the second Oklahoma player to be named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week this season. Three weeks ago, Javon Harris earned the honor in OU’s win at Florida State.

Fleming will be added to the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 12 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. The keynote address will be given by Georgia head coach Mark Richt and Florida’s Jack Youngblood from the Class of 1970 will receive this year’s Bronko Nagurski Legends Award.

Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.

Each week during the 2011 season the FWAA All-America Committee has selected a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Last season, Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 16th season the FWAA named a national defensive player of the year.

The Charlotte Touchdown Clubis a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tigerfwaa@aol.com or 972-713-6198.

 

 

Alex Jensen Named Head Coach of the Canton NBA Development League Franchise

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 11th, 2011

CANTON – The Cleveland Cavaliers today announced that Alex Jensen has been named the first-ever head coach of their new NBA Development League franchise in Canton. Canton General Manager Wes Wilcox made the announcement. Per team and league policy, terms of the contract were not released.

“Alex is a great fit for our team and organization and what we want to develop and accomplish in Canton. He has a very successful and diverse background that is rooted in strong defensive principles and learned from one of the best coaches and basketball teachers in college basketball in Rick Majerus,” said Wilcox. “Alex is also a strong communicator, has natural coaching instincts and understands the importance of building a team with a strong defensive foundation. We are very excited for him to get started.”

 

 

FWAA: Landry Jones Named Davey O’Brien Quarterback Of The Week

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 11th, 2011

Jones leads Sooners to 55-17 win over Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas -Following a commanding 55-17 victory over then-No. 11 Texas, Oklahoma’s Landry Jones has been named the Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week. Jones lit up the Longhorn defense for 367 yards in the air while pushing the Sooners to a 5-0 mark for the 2011 season.

Landry Jones led Oklahoma to a huge win over Texas on Saturday.

 

The Artesia, N.M., native continued his impressive play, completing 31-of-50 passes and landing three touchdowns. After the first quarter of play, the Sooners held a narrow 6-3 advantage, but the second quarter belonged to Jones and his offense. Within the first four minutes of the second stanza, Jones had struck twice and given Oklahoma a 20-3 lead. With less than one minute still to play in the opening half, the junior led the offense down the field, tallied his third touchdown of the quarter and gave the Sooners a strong 34-10 lead. At halftime, he had already accumulated 305 yards.

 

 

Wine & Gold Show Podcast – Episode 21 – No Season, LeBron Over The Middle, Tryouts

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 11th, 2011

You can listen to “The Wine & Gold Show” every Tuesday at 7 P.M. EST You will be able to join the chat room and call in as well. Make sure to tweet out the show and use the hashtag #WGSHOW.

Episode 21 - 10.11.11

 

Brendan Bowers and I talked about the NBA lockout and a whole slew of other topics on “The Wine & Gold Show”, heard only on TheDugoutSportsShow.com and StepienRules.com. While NBA commissioner David Stern cancelled the first two weeks of the season, we talked about will a season actually take place and who is to blame…the players or the owners?

 

 

Wine and Gold Show - Episode 21 - 10.11.11 [ 29:12 ]

We also talked about the news that LeBron James might be looking to play in the NFL. And how sweet it would be for him to take a hard shot over the middle if he would play wide receiver.

We wrapped up the show with the question: Will YOU be trying out for the NBA D-League in the next few weeks? Bowers has some high-level experience and I on the other hand, don’t. But we stated we would show interested in at least trying out!

 

 

30 Minutes With Pure Rage Chris Perez – Episode 2 – Rain Delays, Brew Crew, Jobu

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 10th, 2011

You can listen to “30 Minutes With Pure Rage” every Monday and Wednesday at 6 P.M. EST . You will be able to join the chat room and call in as well. Make sure to tweet out the show and use the hashtag #30PureRage.

Episode 2 - 10.10.11

Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez and I talked about everything from Nick Swisher to MLB Playoffs to hair on Monday’s edition of “30 Minutes With Pure Rage, heard only on TheDugoutSportsShow.com. We discussed what has transpired so far in the playoffs, including what teams he is rooting for. He also talked about the home-field advantage the Milwaukee Brewers are having right now and how the fans pump him up at Progressive Field.

 

 

 

We had @Jobu_Lives call in and ask Chris what guy he would like to strike out to win a World Series. Perez answered with Nick Swisher, which got a laugh from myself and Jobu. Chris said he doesn’t like the flashy style of Swisher.

 

We talked football as well, as well as when Chris will get a hair endorsement. But nothing matches the great playoff talk between myself and Pure Rage.

 

 

DSS 1st Annual Weekly Celebrity Football Picks – Week 5

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on October 9th, 2011

DSS will have a few celebrities pick their winners of the football season every week! Plus, the picks of DSS founder, Glenn Moore and a guest celebrity from Twitter!

This year’s celebrities are Matt Iseman, host of American Ninja Warrior on G4, WWE Hall of Famer, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez, and ESPN’s SportsNation host Michelle Beadle. And our guest celebrity this week is Mark Spencer,

 

 

More Background On TheDugoutSportsShow.com

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During the late 2000s and early 2010s, independent sports media was experiencing rapid growth. Podcasting was beginning to move into the mainstream, internet radio networks were attracting dedicated audiences, and sports blogs were proving they could compete with traditional newspapers for breaking news and opinion. Within that environment, TheDugoutSportsShow.com emerged as a Cleveland-centered sports destination that blended radio programming, written journalism, fantasy sports analysis, and fan interaction into a single online platform. Although the website operated for only a few years, roughly between 2008 and 2011, it captured an important moment in the evolution of independent sports media.

Unlike many local fan blogs of the era that focused almost exclusively on one team, The Dugout Sports Show broadened its coverage to include nearly every major American sport. Cleveland professional teams remained at the heart of the site's identity, but readers also found extensive coverage of the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NBA, NCAA football and basketball, fantasy football, golf, NASCAR, professional wrestling, and other sports. This combination gave the website a wider appeal while still maintaining a distinctly Northeast Ohio personality.

A Cleveland Identity

Few cities embrace sports with the same passion as Cleveland. Long before the Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Championship, Cleveland fans had developed a reputation for unwavering loyalty despite decades of heartbreak. Browns supporters filled stadiums regardless of record, Indians (now Guardians) fans followed every pennant race, and Ohio State football inspired year-round conversation across the region.

The Dugout Sports Show positioned itself squarely within that culture.

The website's slogan, "We Are Cleveland Sports," reflected more than geography. It communicated that the site was created by lifelong fans who understood the emotional investment that Northeast Ohio residents place in their teams. While national stories certainly appeared, many of the site's discussions naturally returned to Cleveland franchises and Ohio State athletics because those subjects generated the strongest engagement from its audience.

Host Glenn S. Moore frequently discussed the Cleveland Indians, Browns, Cavaliers, and Buckeyes while also expanding into national sports stories whenever major events demanded attention. Rather than trying to imitate national networks such as ESPN, the show embraced its regional perspective, giving listeners opinions rooted in the experiences of Cleveland sports fans.

Glenn S. Moore and the Creation of the Show

The driving force behind The Dugout Sports Show was Glenn S. Moore, whose broadcasting background combined journalism, coaching, and lifelong sports enthusiasm.

Growing up in the Cleveland area, Moore became immersed in local athletics from an early age. After graduating from Aurora High School, he attended the University of Toledo to study broadcasting before moving into sports journalism and radio. His experience extended beyond broadcasting into writing for sports publications, including contributions to Bleacher Report during the site's rapid expansion years. He also covered local softball for Northeast Ohio newspapers while remaining active as a baseball coach and competitive player. These experiences gave him credibility across multiple levels of athletics—from amateur sports to the professional leagues.

Moore's stated goal as host was not simply to persuade listeners to agree with his opinions. Instead, he consistently emphasized presenting both sides of controversial sports debates before explaining his own viewpoint. That balanced approach distinguished the program from the increasingly confrontational style that was becoming common on national sports television during the same period.

Part of the Morning Show Central Network

An important aspect of The Dugout Sports Show's growth was its relationship with the Morning Show Central Radio Network, an internet broadcasting platform that hosted numerous independent talk shows.

Rather than relying on a traditional AM or FM radio affiliate, the program embraced online broadcasting at a time when internet radio was becoming increasingly practical for both broadcasters and listeners. Live streaming, archived episodes, chat rooms, and social media interaction allowed audiences to participate in ways that conventional terrestrial radio often could not.

The site's programming encouraged audience involvement through live calls, chat participation, and Twitter hashtags accompanying individual shows. These interactive features reflected the broader shift taking place across digital media, where audiences increasingly expected two-way conversations instead of one-way broadcasts.

Programming That Went Beyond Cleveland

Although Cleveland sports remained the primary focus, The Dugout Sports Show expanded well beyond local coverage. Visitors could expect commentary on virtually every major professional and collegiate sport, making the website appealing to fans whose interests extended outside Northeast Ohio.

The editorial philosophy was straightforward: if it was a significant sports story, it deserved discussion.

Coverage regularly included:

  • NFL news, game analysis, and player developments
  • Major League Baseball, particularly postseason races and offseason transactions
  • NBA news and labor issues
  • College football rankings, conference races, and bowl games
  • NCAA basketball
  • Fantasy football strategy
  • Golf
  • NASCAR
  • Professional wrestling
  • Olympic and specialty sports when major events occurred

This broad approach differentiated the site from many regional sports blogs that concentrated exclusively on hometown teams. Readers could visit for Browns coverage but remain to read about SEC football, the World Series, fantasy football waiver pickups, or developments surrounding the NBA lockout.

Because multiple writers contributed content, the website maintained a steady stream of fresh articles during football season, often publishing several stories per day.

Original Programming and Radio Shows

The Dugout Sports Show was more than a written sports blog. Audio programming formed the center of the site's identity, with several recurring internet radio shows that blended interviews, opinion, and audience participation.

Listeners could tune in live while also accessing archived episodes after broadcast.

Some of the site's most recognizable programs included:

The Dugout Sports Show

The flagship program featured Glenn Moore discussing current sports headlines while interviewing guests from across the sports world.

Topics frequently ranged from:

  • Cleveland Browns developments
  • Indians baseball
  • Ohio State football
  • NFL news
  • MLB postseason
  • College football rankings
  • Breaking sports stories

Rather than simply reading headlines, Moore often encouraged debate, presenting different viewpoints before explaining his own conclusions.

30 Minutes With Pure Rage

One of the site's most memorable programs was 30 Minutes With Pure Rage, featuring Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez.

Unlike a traditional athlete interview, the show adopted an informal conversational format. Perez answered listener phone calls, discussed current baseball events, commented on league news, made predictions, and occasionally wandered into humorous off-topic conversations.

Archived episodes covered subjects including:

  • MLB playoff races
  • Labor negotiations and potential strikes
  • Theo Epstein's move to the Chicago Cubs
  • World Series predictions
  • NFL picks
  • Nick Swisher
  • Hair endorsements
  • Fan questions
  • Even an unexpected discussion involving King Tut
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The relaxed style gave fans an opportunity to hear a current Major League player speak candidly rather than through carefully managed postgame interviews.

The Wine & Gold Show

Basketball fans could also follow The Wine & Gold Show, which focused primarily on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the NBA.

Hosted by Glenn Moore alongside Brendan Bowers, the program examined topics such as:

  • NBA labor negotiations
  • League-wide player movement
  • Cavaliers rebuilding efforts
  • Draft prospects
  • Development League news
  • LeBron James

During the 2011 NBA lockout, the show devoted considerable attention to whether the season would actually occur, debating responsibility between owners and players while examining possible long-term consequences for the league.

The hosts also discussed then-current rumors that LeBron James might consider playing professional football during the lockout, illustrating how quickly the program reacted to major sports news.

Fantasy Football Became a Major Attraction

Fantasy football was exploding in popularity during the late 2000s.

ESPN, Yahoo, CBS Sports, and NFL.com had introduced millions of casual fans to fantasy leagues, creating demand for weekly advice beyond traditional sports journalism.

The Dugout Sports Show embraced this trend by publishing regular fantasy columns that helped readers manage their teams throughout the NFL season.

One of the site's best-known recurring features was Kate Arhar's "Fantasy Studs and Duds."

Each week the column analyzed:

  • Top-performing players
  • Biggest disappointments
  • Waiver-wire pickups
  • Injury updates
  • Bye-week strategies
  • Sleepers
  • Lineup recommendations

Rather than merely listing statistics, Arhar explained why certain players were likely to improve or decline, giving fantasy managers practical guidance they could immediately apply.

For example, one column highlighted emerging Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin long before he became widely recognized, while also identifying struggling veterans who fantasy owners should consider dropping. The articles mixed statistical evaluation with humor and conversational commentary, making them approachable for both experienced fantasy players and newcomers.

Strong College Football Coverage

College football represented another major editorial strength.

Contributor Christopher Williams authored analytical opinion pieces that went beyond simple game recaps.

His recurring series, "5 Things I Think," examined broader issues shaping each week's college football landscape.

Rather than simply discussing scores, Williams analyzed topics such as:

  • AP Poll versus Coaches Poll differences
  • Conference realignment
  • SEC championship races
  • Coaching decisions
  • Quarterback controversies
  • NCAA rules
  • Bowl eligibility
  • Competitive balance among conferences

These articles often combined statistical evidence with opinion, encouraging readers to think critically about issues affecting college football nationally rather than focusing only on rankings or highlight plays.

Interviews and Access to Professional Athletes

One of the characteristics that distinguished The Dugout Sports Show from many independent sports blogs was its ability to secure interviews and recurring appearances by professional athletes and respected figures within the sports industry.

The most notable relationship was with Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez, who became a recurring personality on the site through the "30 Minutes With Pure Rage" series. Rather than appearing only as a one-time guest promoting an event, Perez participated regularly, allowing listeners to become familiar with his personality over multiple episodes.

The conversations often blended serious baseball discussion with humor and spontaneous audience interaction. Perez offered opinions on postseason baseball, discussed player movement, answered listener questions, and joked about everything from rival players to his weekly NFL picks. This style helped create an atmosphere that felt more like fans talking sports with a knowledgeable friend than listening to a carefully scripted media interview.

Beyond Perez, the site regularly covered news involving athletes, coaches, league executives, and broadcasters, while incorporating official announcements from teams and sports organizations into its editorial coverage.

Timely Coverage of Breaking Sports News

A review of archived articles demonstrates that The Dugout Sports Show worked to publish stories quickly as major events unfolded.

During October 2011 alone, the website covered:

  • The Major League Baseball postseason
  • NFL Week 5 and Week 6 action
  • Fantasy football developments
  • NCAA football rankings
  • The NBA lockout
  • NBA Development League expansion
  • College football awards
  • Weekly national honors from the Football Writers Association of America
  • Cleveland Cavaliers news
  • Ohio State football
  • Nebraska's dramatic comeback victory over Ohio State

Many of these stories appeared within hours of official announcements or game conclusions, illustrating the site's emphasis on remaining current during busy sports seasons.

Unlike newspapers operating on daily print schedules, online publishing allowed the site's contributors to react almost immediately to developing stories, something that increasingly became an expectation among sports fans during the early 2010s.

A Blend of Original Reporting and Sports Journalism

The site's editorial strategy combined several different types of content rather than relying on a single format.

Visitors encountered:

  • Original opinion columns
  • Feature articles
  • Fantasy football advice
  • Podcast episodes
  • Athlete interviews
  • Commentary
  • Press releases from sports organizations
  • League announcements
  • Team news
  • Statistical analysis

For example, articles announcing weekly honors from the Football Writers Association of America—including the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week, and Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week—appeared alongside locally written commentary and analysis. Rather than simply reposting official releases, the site's editorial team frequently added context explaining why the awards mattered and how they fit into the broader college football landscape.

This combination allowed readers to receive factual updates while also benefiting from original perspectives.

Contributor Team

Although Glenn Moore served as the public face of the website, several contributors helped expand its editorial reach.

Among the recognizable writers were:

Kate Arhar

Known primarily for fantasy football coverage, Arhar developed weekly advice columns that mixed statistical analysis with accessible writing. Her recurring "Fantasy Studs and Duds" feature became one of the site's most consistent pieces of seasonal content.

Christopher Williams

Williams specialized in college football analysis. His "5 Things I Think" series explored rankings, conference races, coaching decisions, NCAA policy changes, and broader trends affecting Division I football.

Brendan Bowers

Bowers co-hosted The Wine & Gold Show, bringing NBA discussion and Cleveland Cavaliers analysis to listeners during one of the league's most turbulent periods, including the 2011 lockout.

Together, these contributors helped diversify the website's voice while preventing it from becoming dependent upon a single personality.

Audience and Community

The Dugout Sports Show primarily appealed to sports fans throughout Northeast Ohio, but its content naturally attracted listeners from across the country due to its broad sports coverage.

Its audience generally included:

  • Cleveland Browns fans
  • Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) supporters
  • Cleveland Cavaliers followers
  • Ohio State football fans
  • Fantasy football managers
  • College football enthusiasts
  • General sports radio listeners

Because shows aired online, geography was less limiting than it would have been for traditional local radio. Fans from outside Ohio could still participate in live chat rooms, call into programs, and interact through social media.

The site actively encouraged listener engagement by inviting questions, taking live phone calls, reading tweets, promoting show hashtags, and discussing audience opinions during broadcasts. Those interactive features helped cultivate a loyal community at a time when many sports websites still operated largely as one-way publishing platforms.

Social Media and Digital Engagement

The late 2000s represented an important transition period in sports media as Twitter rapidly became an essential platform for breaking news and fan discussion.

The Dugout Sports Show embraced this evolution by integrating Twitter into its programming.

Episodes regularly encouraged listeners to:

  • Follow the hosts online
  • Tweet comments during broadcasts
  • Use dedicated show hashtags
  • Submit questions before and during live programs

This social-first approach reflected broader industry trends. Many sports journalists were beginning to break stories through Twitter rather than waiting for television broadcasts or newspaper publication, and independent websites like The Dugout Sports Show benefited by participating directly in those real-time conversations.

For an online-only sports outlet, this integration of radio, blogging, and social media represented a forward-thinking strategy that anticipated many of the engagement techniques now common among sports podcasts and digital media brands.

Popularity and Reception

Like many independently operated sports websites from the late 2000s, The Dugout Sports Show measured success less by massive national traffic than by cultivating an engaged community of repeat visitors and listeners. While it never approached the audience size of ESPN, CBS Sports, or Yahoo! Sports, it established a recognizable presence among Cleveland sports fans and followers of internet sports radio.

The site's ability to attract recurring guests, publish multiple articles each day during football season, and maintain a schedule of live broadcasts suggests that it built a loyal audience during its active years. Its integration with the Morning Show Central Radio Network further expanded its reach beyond Northeast Ohio by making programs accessible online rather than limiting them to a local terrestrial radio market.

Fantasy football articles, Cleveland sports discussions, and college football analysis proved especially popular during the site's final years, reflecting broader sports media trends of the early 2010s.

Press Coverage and Industry Connections

Although The Dugout Sports Show operated independently, it maintained connections with established organizations throughout the sports world.

Its coverage frequently included official announcements and releases from organizations such as:

  • The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)
  • The Cleveland Cavaliers
  • NBA Development League (now the NBA G League)
  • Various NCAA athletic programs
  • Professional sports organizations

The website also reported on nationally significant developments involving Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and college athletics, blending official information with editorial commentary.

Rather than functioning solely as a fan blog, The Dugout Sports Show demonstrated many characteristics of a developing digital sports publication by combining original reporting, syndicated announcements, interviews, podcasts, and opinion journalism.

The Website's Design and Features

The archived versions of TheDugoutSportsShow.com illustrate the design trends common among sports websites during the late 2000s.

The homepage emphasized fresh content, displaying recently published stories in reverse chronological order. Articles featured accompanying photographs, embedded audio players for podcasts, and clear navigation menus that directed visitors toward the site's primary content categories.

Common features included:

  • News articles
  • Podcast archives
  • Embedded audio players
  • Fantasy football features
  • College football analysis
  • Cleveland sports coverage
  • Comment functionality
  • Social media integration

Unlike many modern sports websites filled with autoplay video and aggressive advertising, the site's design remained relatively straightforward, prioritizing readability and quick access to articles.

Why the Site Disappeared

Like thousands of independent blogs and internet radio projects launched during the late 2000s, The Dugout Sports Show eventually ceased regular publication.

No formal public announcement appears to explain the decision, but several factors likely contributed.

First, the digital sports media landscape changed dramatically during the early 2010s. Large national publishers expanded their online operations while podcasts became increasingly professionalized, making it more difficult for smaller independent outlets to compete for advertising revenue and audience attention.

Second, maintaining a website that combined daily journalism, live internet radio, podcast production, social media engagement, fantasy sports coverage, and guest interviews required significant time and financial investment.

Finally, many contributors moved on to other professional opportunities as careers evolved. Independent sports websites often depended heavily on volunteer or part-time contributors, making long-term sustainability challenging without substantial commercial backing.

Although active publishing appears to have ended around 2011, archived versions of the website preserve its content and illustrate the style of independent sports journalism during an important period of digital media history.

Legacy

The Dugout Sports Show occupies an interesting place in the history of internet sports media.

It emerged during a transitional era when podcasts were beginning to replace traditional radio for many listeners, social media was transforming sports conversations into real-time discussions, and independent publishers demonstrated they could attract audiences once served almost exclusively by newspapers and major broadcasters.

Several characteristics stand out when looking back at the site's accomplishments:

  • A distinctly Cleveland perspective combined with national sports coverage.
  • Successful integration of written journalism, internet radio, and podcasting.
  • Strong fantasy football content during the rapid growth of fantasy sports.
  • Regular interviews with professional athletes, including Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez.
  • Active audience participation through chat rooms, live calls, and social media.
  • Coverage extending across professional sports, college athletics, and emerging stories.

In many ways, The Dugout Sports Show anticipated practices that are now commonplace. Today's sports media landscape is filled with creator-driven podcasts, independent newsletters, YouTube sports channels, and digital-first publications that blend commentary, interviews, and audience interaction. The Dugout Sports Show embraced those ideas years before they became standard throughout the industry.

Although the website itself is no longer active, its archived pages remain a valuable snapshot of a formative period in online sports journalism. They document how passionate independent broadcasters and writers leveraged emerging technologies to build communities around shared enthusiasm for sports, particularly within one of America's most devoted sports cities.

For Cleveland fans who followed the broadcasts, participated in live chats, or debated the latest Browns, Indians, Cavaliers, or Buckeyes story, The Dugout Sports Show represented more than another sports website. It was an online gathering place where knowledgeable fans could engage with timely reporting, thoughtful opinion, and lively conversation during a period when digital sports media was rapidly redefining how audiences consumed sports news.

 

TheDugoutSportsShow.com