Looking back on it now, it seems as though I have been a podcast listener for as long as I have enjoyed entertainment. That’s just how it feels, in the same way you can’t remember life before marriage, it’s all a blur. Of course, this medium of audio goodness has only really been a true means for enjoyment for just over a decade or so. I can recall listening to my very first podcast ever, downloading it via iTunes and downloading it to my original iPod. The fateful listen was “The Ricky Gervais Podcast”, which featured Gervais along with Stephen Merchant and 8th wonder of the world, Karl Pilkington.
While it had the word ‘podcast’ in its title, it wasn’t what you would think, being born to today’s iteration. Back then, he released random episodes periodically - totaling a cluster of unbelievable comedy that left me in fits of tears. Literally, I would be heaving from laughter listening to those British blokes. Once I had whet my appetite for this new form of entertainment, I was absolutely hooked. I began scavenging the iTunes Store for all the podcasts they offered at the time. I needed more content to satiate my creative needs. I tried a few other ones here and there, but nothing stuck with me. That is, until I found a lone podcast that had the word ‘Basketball’ in its title - I had to at least give it a try. I mention this because this Monday January 18th will commemorate the 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY for TBJ/The Starters podcast.
Remember, at the time, the only outlet for information and analysis was basically only via ESPN.com, which was utterly lackluster, mostly due to the quiet landscape in market which didn’t force them to up their game as they have today. So I downloaded the 20 minute episode and was first introduced to a trio of dudes from Toronto, one of whom had no interest whatsoever in the sport he covered. As was told to me by energetic host J.E. Skeets, I was listening to The Basketball Jones podcast. His co-host , Tas Melas, was super into the NBA as well. The man behind the scenes, with no care for hoops, was producer extraordinaire Jason Doyle, or JD for short.
Instantly, I had found myself a few kindred spirits, living in another country, whom I began to have daily hook-ups with. That podcast turned into the bright spot of my day. They would release them mad early in the AM, allowing me to consume it while I devoured my lunch every day. I now had a lunch crew that loved the same sport I did, just as much as I did too! On those sporadic days when the podcast would be delayed in being released, I would constantly refresh their blog page to see that day’s podcast photo so that I knew to jump straight to iTunes that moment!
Before anyone else too, they had a video podcast, which initially blew my mind, because I had imagined what these dudes looked like in my imagination only to see the real McCoy. I remember one room they used a lot, at one point, which I believe was Skeets’ building community room. I recall that place so vividly because of the mahogany wooded cubby wall to their left, which always reminded me of that secret stone wall entrance used in “Thundercats”. Regardless, the joyful and informative way in which they covered the league was much needed in a sparse environment. In the initial years, the show would basically act a recap of the prior night’s action. I learned so much more about a game I thought I knew, simply by listening to the astute points made by these awesome Canadians. Slowly, I began to spread to word to my hoop-head buddies, a few of which also became devoted fans of this show.
Then, when the NBA has its lock-out, The Basketball Jones was determined to keep on doing their thing by putting together an epic country-wide tour of various cities; hosting live events with their growing fan base. I had remembered watching/listening to their seminal episodes, like their 500th, which was a big shindig in a Toronto bar. Just seeing how many people came out to have a good time was really great. So when they stopped in NYC for their “No Season Required” Tour, I made sure to attend. As soon as I entered the crammed venue, I moved aside for a dude who was scurrying to the front of the room with a camera, taking pictures for those fans who wanted to check it out online. That spry individual was none other than the Australian Fact-Checker Leigh Ellis! Also in attendance, were the newest members of the squad - new producer Matt Olsen and Newly Imported Blog Editor Trey Kirby.
That night was so much fun, making me even more intrenched in their cult. Ever since the league settled that labor dispute, TBJ has straight balled out! From starting a podcast in their basement, which they diligently tackled every morning FOR FREE, to getting picked up by Canadian station The Score, which upped their profile as well. A few times their podcast would show up as a guest post on Grantland.com too. Then, in a move I still cannot believe, as my wife can attest to, these dudes made the big time and got picked up by the NBATV to run their touchstone studio show. This was the ACTUAL NBA calling them to move their families and make the trip to Atlanta. In what world does this type of progression happen to random dudes talking hoops?
It’s unreal and their daily TV show, The Starters, has been phenomenal. I loved that their reach has multiplied incredibly since the show premiered. No longer do I feel isolated when talking about my favorite sports podcast because now people know them from TV too. You can see from the copious amounts of fan signs they constantly post on the show, just how much the public enjoys their playful chemistry and solid analysis. Their weekly Friday podcast, 'The Drop’, is calling my name right now and a bunch of special podcast planned for next week have me mad excited.
So embrace the day people…and remember - you can’t hit a 10 year anniversary without starting out on Day 1 of that journey. 👍🏼👍🏼