Date: December 10, 2025 Location: The Don Father Studio, Bristol, CT

The Bristol Boys are back in the Don Father Studio following a remote broadcast at the Hall of Fame. On this packed episode, the crew dives deep into baseball history, officiating, and the state of youth sports with two heavyweight guests. Plus, the usual heated debates on NFL fantasy stats and NBA hot takes.

⚾ Special Guest: MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi

The boys welcome veteran MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi, who recently became the oldest active umpire in Major League history (August 2025). Phil shares incredible stories from over three decades of professional umpiring.

• The Minor League Grind: Phil opens up about the unglamorous road to the majors—two-man crews, all-night drives, and sleeping in roadside motels.
• Manager Showdowns: Phil dishes on the managers he’s ejected and respected.
  • The Unfair: Ozzie Guillen.
  • The Legend: Bobby Cox (fair but fiery).
  • The Strategist: Buck Showalter (who explained exactly how he would get ejected).
  • The Lou Piniella Story: A hilarious encounter on a plane immediately after an ejection.
• Historic Moments: Working the plate for Cole Hamels' no-hitter (without realizing it until the final out), the last All-Star game at the old Yankee Stadium, and the famous Brett Gardner dugout ejection.
• The Evolution of the Game: Phil gives his candid take on the pitch clock, the "ghost runner," and the robotic strike zone challenge system.

🏆 Special Guest: Coach Vic Rinaldi

Fresh off a successful run, 3-time State Champion Coach Vic Rinaldi of St. Paul Catholic High School joins the studio to talk local baseball dominance.

• Building a Dynasty: How the St. Paul program attracts talent not through recruiting, but through a culture of winning and academic success.
• The Youth Sports Crisis: A serious discussion on the epidemic of arm injuries in young players. Coach Rinaldi and the boys discuss the dangers of year-round showcases, lack of rest, and the "velocity at all costs" mindset.
• Coaching Philosophy: Moving players around to fit team needs (converting catchers to first basemen/pitchers) and maintaining relationships with umpires.

🏈 Gridiron & Hardwood Trivia

The Don Father leads the crew through a gauntlet of sports trivia and "Who Would You Rather?" debates.

• NFL Fantasy Grid: A process of elimination challenge to find the WR with the most career fantasy points (Surprise: It’s not who you think).
• QB Stat Mystery: Comparing Josh Allen to Patrick Mahomes over their last 50 starts—the numbers might shock you.
• "Say What?" NBA Edition: Guessing famous quotes from Shaq, Kevin Garnett, and Metta World Peace.
• Hot Takes: The crew debates the OKC Thunder's winning streak and revisits the contentious "Wembanyama is a bust" argument.

🙏 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

• Joe Moriello: Senior VP of Capital Securities – For a life well planned.
• Skygazer Brewing: Home of the Pink Lemonade Shandy.
• Greg Hunt: Twister Baseball Clinics.

Would you like me to extract a list of all the specific baseball managers mentioned and their specific interactions with Phil for a social media clip description?

The Bristle Boyz are live from the Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony! We’re celebrating the 2025 class of local legends, debating baseball ethics, and testing our Husky knowledge. The Don Father is playing hurt and Angry J is fired up as we interview Bristol’s finest.

We kick things off with a heated debate on the Baseball Hall of Fame—do A-Rod and Bonds belong in Cooperstown? Then, we pivot to UConn Men’s Basketball Trivia, testing our knowledge on everything from Shabazz Napier to the current run by Alex Karaban.

Guest Lineup & Timestamps:

• [04:20] Steve "Big Beach" Beecher: The Boys & Girls Club Athletic Coordinator discusses his All-American football career and the "tough love" expectations at the Club.
• [23:20] Principal Michael Higgins: The Bristol Eastern Principal talks scholar-athletes and drops a prediction for the Thanksgiving Day Bell City Bowl.
• [33:40] Bryant Lishness (2025 Inductee): A Gladiator Wrestling legend talks about Bristol's reputation as a "wrestling town" and coaching the next generation.
• [42:30] Brian "Archie" Archibald (2025 Inductee): Archie breaks down how wrestling prepared him for pitching battles and the intense Eastern vs. Central rivalry.
• [52:50] Andy Freemuth (2025 Inductee): Andy reflects on playing at Trinity College and his experience at the Fenway Park All-Star game.
• [57:10] Bob Kalat (President, BSHOF): The man behind the scenes discusses his 28 years of service and the pride of preserving Bristol’s sports history.
• [01:01:20] Coach Bunty Ray: The 2024 Inductee returns! With nearly 70 seasons coached, Bunty gives a masterclass on longevity and character development.

Key Topics:

• The PED Debate: Stats vs. Integrity in Cooperstown.
• UConn Trivia: Record holders for wins, starts, and blocks.
• The Rivalry: The deep-seated animosity (and respect) between the Rams and Lancers.

Sponsors:

• Joe Moriello: Senior VP of Capital Security
• Twister Baseball Clinic
• Skygazer Brewing

Date: November 17, 2025 Hosts: Angry J, Mac Daddy, The Don Father, Kevin Ross Studio Engineer: Brian Ferguson Sponsor: Joe Moriello, Capital Securities

🎙️ Intro & Local Beat

The boys christen the new studio ("The Home of the Don Father") and preview the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony happening this Friday at the DoubleTree.

• The Plan: The crew will be live in the foyer interviewing inductees.
• Class of '25 Mentions: Brian Archibald, Tom Dickow, Andrew Freemuth, and David Hernandez.

⚾ MLB Awards & Hot Stove

• The MVP Debate: Aaron Judge secures his 3rd MVP. The hosts dismantle the "East Coast Bias" argument from Mariners fans (Cal Raleigh), noting Judge's OPS dominance.
• Yankees Moves: Discussion on the re-signing of Ryan Yarbrough and rumors surrounding Japanese slugger Murakami.

🏀 NBA: Mavs Meltdown & Wemby

• Dallas "Dumpster Fire": The hosts roast the Mavericks' front office and the failed chemistry between Luka and Kyrie.
• The Wemby Question: Is Victor Wembanyama a top-5 talent? Yes. Will he ever stay healthy enough to prove it? The Don Father says "No."

🏈 Feature: Angry J’s Bracket Challenge

The Scenario: It is 4th & 1. You are the linebacker in the hole. Which RB (post-1980) do you least want to tackle?

• The Matchups: Heavy hitters like Marshawn Lynch, Adrian Peterson, and Bo Jackson.
• The Final: Bo Jackson vs. Earl Campbell.
• The Champion: Earl Campbell (The Tyler Rose). The consensus: other backs might embarrass you, but Earl would run through you.

🏈 NFL & Coaching Carousel

• Giants: Heavy criticism for Brian Daboll regarding blown 4th-quarter leads and exposing Daniel Jones to injury.
• Steelers: Is Mike Tomlin "Captain Average"? The crew debates if 9-8 seasons are enough.
• Pitt’s Legacy: A nod to the University of Pittsburgh football program (Marino, Dorsett, Donald, Revis) climbing the all-time NFL talent rankings.

🧠 "Say What?" Trivia

The crew tries to identify famous football quotes:

• "Don't worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon." — John Madden
• "I'm in favor of it." (On his team's execution) — John McKay
• "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." — Joe Theismann

Next Step: Are you attending the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame induction this Friday? Come find us in the foyer at the DoubleTree to say hello!