Baseball Hall of Fame-caliber manager Bobby Valentine joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for the premiere NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series episode. The former manager of the Texas Rangers (7 years), New York Mets (NL pennant), Boston Red Sox, and two-time champion in Japan shares a lifetime of stories. From playing for 17-year-old Lou Lamoriello in Cape Cod to the iconic 1999 mustache disguise, managing Mike Piazza's emotional 9/11 home run that healed New York, pioneering American success in Japanese baseball, teaching ballroom dancing exhibitions, and calling Shohei Ohtani the greatest athlete in a baseball uniform. Plus the 40-15 prediction he nailed exactly, George W. Bush partnership, Tommy Lasorda's influence, Sacred Heart University athletic director tenure, and philanthropic work with Special Olympics. This is Bobby Valentine uncensored.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome to NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series premiere with baseball legend Bobby Valentine

[01:00] - Fifth franchise: stepping outside hockey to learn from sports icons across disciplines

[02:00] - Bobby joins from Valentine Sports Academy in Stamford, Connecticut on exercise bike

[03:00] - 1994 Stanley Cup photo at Shea Stadium: Rangers or Devils cup with Doug Romano

[04:00] - Age 17: playing for Lou Lamoriello in Cape Cod League 1967

[05:00] - Lou's baseball background: Providence College coach, Pan-Am League player at 23-24

[06:00] - First-generation Italian parents: couldn't spell Cape Cod, Bobby spent summer in Yarmouth

[07:00] - Lou's discipline from day one: couldn't ride in trunk of car to road games

[08:00] - Baseball vs hockey management: everyday grind, respect of opposition and teammates

[09:00] - Accountability on ice same as diamond: only difference hockey players drink more (Canadian thing)

[10:00] - Texas Rangers: seven years as manager with George W. Bush as GM/owner

[11:00] - Bush made change 1992: "good idea, I was there long enough, time to move on"

[12:00] - Japanese GM's mission: finding first non-Japanese manager for professional league

[13:00] - Going to Japan: "right-eyed and bushy-tailed gonna teach everyone everything"

[14:00] - Learning while teaching: rewarding experience understanding Japanese baseball culture

[15:00] - Spectacular Japanese players: Ogasawara and others, closed society not up for change

[16:00] - Hideo Nomo: first real MLB player, threw no-hitter when Bobby won championship

[17:00] - Cross-section working: 1934 Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig exhibition to modern day

[18:00] - Cooperstown Hall of Fame: Ichiro Suzuki induction, US-Japan baseball exhibit

[19:00] - Shohei Ohtani: best athlete in baseball uniform ever seen, either side of Pacific Ocean

[20:00] - 2006 draft: wanted two-way player, first baseman/pitcher threw 95 mph, drank beer instead

[21:00] - What Ohtani's doing is really tough: unprecedented two-way excellence

[22:00] - Chiba Lotte Marines: attendance doubled, hosting ballroom dancing classes

[23:00] - International ballroom dance champion: teaching chacha to community before games

[24:00] - Exhibition in tuxedo with partner: full ballroom dress on field before national anthem

[25:00] - Changed costumes during anthem, came out to manage game immediately after

[26:00] - 2005 return to Japan: bringing American fan-friendly atmosphere post-1995 MLB strike

[27:00] - Kids running bases, autograph sessions: opening up Japanese baseball culture

[28:00] - June 1999 Mets: eight-game losing streak, GM fired three coaches instead of addressing players

[29:00] - Predicted 40-15 in next 55 games or would quit: media ready to hold feet to fire

[30:00] - Catcher's balk: Mike Piazza stepped outside box before Pat Mahomes (Patrick's father) released

[31:00] - Randy Marsh call: read about it for years, never seen it called until that moment

[32:00] - "You can't throw me out for what I'm thinking, can you?" - told him anyway, ejected

[33:00] - Real shit show: GM's moves, pressure from media and New York

[34:00] - Players came to clubhouse: "Coaches don't know who's in bullpen, win this for us"

[35:00] - Famous disguise: glasses, hat, t-shirt from players, mustache Bobby's idea

[36:00] - Eye black stickers: one here, one there, Robin Ventura "oh they'll never know"

[37:00] - $10,000 fine and three-game suspension later: "I realized they knew"

[38:00] - Oral Hershiser protecting from top step: third base camera caught angle into dugout

[39:00] - Announcer: "Oh look, there's Bobby Valentine in disguise" - not disguise if he knew

[40:00] - After 54 games: 39-15, reporter hoping for last game, won to make it exactly 40-15

[41:00] - Joe Namath Super Bowl prediction gets credit: "greatest prediction ever, I hit right on"

[42:00] - 24 years since 9/11: both Neil and Bobby living in New York during attack

[43:00] - Great moments in New York sports: Reggie Jackson three homers, Joe Namath Jets

[44:00] - September 21, 2001: first Mets home game 10 days after 9/11 attack

[45:00] - Metal detectors at ballgames and airports: everyone worried, scared, nation attacked

[46:00] - George W. Bush struggling: thought baseball opening back up in NYC proper

[47:00] - Atlanta Braves convinced to come from safe haven to "wild wild East" in New York

[48:00] - Ceremony put together haphazardly but extremely well by city and Mets

[49:00] - Mike Piazza two-run home run bottom eighth: superhero for good guys over bad guys

[50:00] - Frowns turned upside down: crying, hugging, getting back to normal

[51:00] - Moment that turned tide: healing still ongoing but began process for city and country

[52:00] - 20th anniversary: Joe Torre and Bobby throwing first pitch to fire/police commissioners

[53:00] - "We will never forget": commemorative events reminding people

[54:00] - Philanthropist: 100+ charity events as auctioneer or organizer

[55:00] - Special Olympics Connecticut: creative fundraiser arrested and held for bail

[56:00] - Bail set high, money raised, lives changed through donations

[57:00] - Parents instilled giving back: worked church fairs, gave time, love and energy

[58:00] - Tommy Lasorda: charity man personified, raised money for different causes

[59:00] - Following in Lasorda's footsteps: learning from Dodgers legend

[01:00:00] - Two restaurants in Connecticut: Stamford hometown, Windsor Locks near Bradley International

[01:01:00] - Sacred Heart University: Bobby Valentine Athletic Center, raised money for naming

[01:02:00] - Sports academy started 1977: little baseball school teaching kids game and life

[01:03:00] - Evolved to 40,000 square feet: soccer, baseball, lacrosse taught daily

[01:04:00] - Great people surrounding himself: passing on knowledge to next generation

[01:05:00] - Neil: "one of most interesting people I've ever met" - learning outside hockey world

[01:06:00] - Wonderful night in Anaheim with Bill Carroll: honor to host Bobby Valentine

[01:07:00] - Bobby at Mets-Angels game Citi Field: Bill Carroll attending as guest today

[01:08:00] - Vic: stepping out of comfort zone into celebrity realm, Bobby's storytelling outstanding

[01:09:00] - Neil: fascinating sports individual, baseball icon, learned so much

[01:10:00] - More celebrity episodes coming: actors, performers, different sports icons

[01:11:00] - Summer coolers franchise: tentative drop dates August 20, 22, 25, 27

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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