Richard Kaufman, ‘PLAYED: The Games of the 1936 Berlin Olympics’

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As anticipation builds for the 2024 Olympics, a new book from Glenn Allen and Richard Kaufman takes readers back to the contentious atmosphere surrounding the Summer Games hosted by the Nazi regime, when the nations of the world had a chance to turn their backs on Hitler’s propaganda-laden spectacle — but didn’t. Their book, PLAYED: The Games of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, brings to life pivotal characters, both good and bad, to depict a cautionary story that serves to warn the modern era that history must not repeat itself.

Kaufman joins Rick this week.

Based on real stories and real people involved in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, PLAYED plunges readers into a compelling, fictionalized account of the insanity and hysteria that unfolded across Germany, the United States and in much of the world from 1931 through 1936.

At the center of the controversy in the U.S. is American Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage. Unmoved by the new Nazi regime’s anti-Jewish doctrines, Brundage leads the fight to participate in the 1936 Berlin Games after much debate of a U.S. boycott. Brundage desperately wants to be on the International Olympic Committee. If he doesn’t get the Americans to Berlin, he can kiss that dream goodbye.

When the vote is decided in Brundage’s favor, AP Sports Editor Alan J. Gould, friend and champion of the athletes, travels to Berlin to cover all of the “games” being played. Through his eyes readers see the machinations of Brundage’s complicity with the Nazis, the tenacity of the proud American athletes and the extreme pressure from the Nazis on their German athletes. Their stories, heartbreaking and tragic, give rise to feats of heroism that go beyond the playing field.

Along the way readers meet some of the most famous people of the time: Mae West, Charlie Chaplin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Joseph Goebbels, Leni Riefenstahl, Eva Braun and the madman himself, who vowed to “make Germany great again,” Adolf Hitler.

“Of course, we can’t go back in time and change history insomuch as we can change the outcome of a sporting event,” the authors added. “But we’re obligated to study history because it teaches us how to move forward. At least we hope it does.”

About the Authors

Richard Kaufman and Glenn Allen have been writing together for over 25 years. They have numerous projects in development, including scripted feature films, docuseries, television series, and have co-written and produced two award-winning independent films, all under the banner Green Bandana, a TV/film development company the two co-created in 2015.

Book: PLAYED: The Games of the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Website(s): www.greenbandana.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.a.kaufman

Davyeon Ross, Co-Founder, CEO and President of ShotTracker

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It’s Final Four week.. what helps make a successful shooter?

ShotTracker.

Rick is joined again by Davyeon Ross, Co-Founder, CEO and President of ShotTracker, this week.

There is a lot going on at ShotTracker.

ShotTracker is a revolutionary sensor-based system that delivers statistics and analytics to teams, fans and broadcast networks instantly, enhancing the experience of the game — both on and off the court.

ShotTracker tracks more than 70 stats for your team. Real-time stats at your fingertips.

Ross played basketball at Benedictine College and founded Digital Sports VENTURES, an interactive technology company, which was sold to Digital Broadcasting
Group in 2011.

Matt Fowles, Rapsodo Director of Marketing

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Rapsodo, the company known for leading the revolution to affordable, pro-grade sports technology to help athletes play like never before, recently announced the addition of R-Speed for all Premium Members on the mobile app for the Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor (MLM) and Mobile Launch Monitor 2 PRO (MLM2PRO™).

Have a listen to Rick and Matt.

R-Speed is a swing speed platform that measures the speed of the golf club when swung as well as speed training clubs, without the need for impact on a golf ball. Users can measure their swing in three different units: mph, mps or kph. The feature is compatible with both golf clubs and swing speed training programs. “It’s fantastic that Rapsodo has added the ability to measure clubhead speed without ball contact. I completed my last Stack session using the MLM2PRO. The speeds were accurate and it was handy to be able to watch a down the line view of my Stack swing after each rep.” said golf biomechanist, Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, Co-Founder of The Stack.

Designed to help golfers increase the speed of their golf swing, R-Speed allows users to practice and track their swing without needing to hit a golf ball. Perfect for practice sessions, R-Speed will help users increase their swing speed which will ultimately train them to hit the ball farther.

Players can record, monitor and track their R-Speed progress through Rapsodo’s new feature R-Cloud. R-Cloud, which launched in December of 2023, is a web-based platform that allows users to access their entire performance history for MLM and MLM2PRO™ sessions. With access to their performance history, players can monitor and analyze their progress to improve their game performance.

“The addition of R-Speed to Rapsodo’s platform of innovative features will provide another opportunity for athletes at every level to improve their game and track their performance,” Rapsodo Director of Golf Shawn Curtis said.

R-Speed is only available to users with a Premium Membership. The MLM Premium Membership is $99 for one year and includes a number of extra features, and the MLM2PRO™ Premium Membership is $199 for one year, but the first year is included with purchase. The MLM, MLM2PRO™ and the Premium Memberships can all be purchased on www.rapsodo.com.

Rapsodo is on a mission to give athletes everywhere the tools they need to play like never before. Favored by MLB teams, D1 College Champions, and top-ranked PGA coaches, our motto of “Play Without Limits™,” is realized by leveling the playing field with affordable, professional grade technology. Innovation and category leadership in golf, baseball, and softball have been celebrated in MyGolfSpy’s Best Of Golf Awards and led to the Official Partner of USA Baseball. Getting more out of your game is always within reach with Rapsodo. Experience more at https://www.rapsodo.com/.

Lt. Jay Sconyers, US Air Force Band of the West

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Rick talks with Lt. Jay Sconyers, leader of the US Air Force Band of the West.

Based in San Antonio, Texas, the USAF Band of the West is a musical organization with an outstanding record of achievement. The Airmen assigned to the band are highly-trained professional musicians who have dedicated themselves to serving their country through music. Whether recording or performing for live, radio, and television audiences, band members reflect Air Force excellence to millions of people each year.

The USAF Band of the West travels more than 125,000 miles annually and provides hundreds of free performances to military and civilian audiences throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The organization is made up of the multiple large and small ensembles and can blend seamlessly into a any style classical to country!

Second Lieutenant Julian “Jay” Sconyers is the flight commander and associate conductor of the United States Air Force Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Lt Sconyers assists the Commander to lead, organize, and equip a unit of 61 Airmen in engagements throughout the Southeastern United States and abroad on behalf of the 502d Air Base Wing.

Prior to serving in the Air Force, Lt Sconyers served as Director of Bands and Assistant Director of Bands at McNeese State University. Lt Sconyers received his doctorate in musical arts in conducting from the University of South Carolina, where he studied with Dr. Scott Weiss, and his masters of music education and bachelors of music education from the University of Georgia, where he studied trumpet with Professor Fred Mills. Prior to his time in higher education, Lt Sconyers served as the Director of Bands at Elbert County Comprehensive High School in Elberton, GA.

Lt Sconyers has performed in a wide variety of instrumental and choral ensembles, performing throughout the United States, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Vatican, and China. He has served as an associate producer with the USC Wind Ensemble’s album Dynasty on the Summit Label and as a producer and conductor on the McNeese State University Marching Band’s album McNeese Saturday Nights. Lt Sconyers has been published with GIA Press in the 12th edition of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band as well as an upcoming publication of Arvo Pärt’s Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen for wind ensemble. Lt Sconyers has presented at a variety of conferences and clinics around the country including: The College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Athletic Band Symposium (2021), The CBDNA Southeast Regional Conference (2018, 2020, 2022), The CBDNA National Conference (2017), Louisiana Music Educators Conference (2022), Georgia Music Educators Conference (2015), The Future Music Educators Colloquium (2017, 2019), The Marching Arts Roundtable (2018, 2019), and at many high schools, colleges, and universities.

They are coming to Georgia.

The US Air Force Band of the West will present their “Music in Our Schools” concerts in the area at the following East and Central Georgia locations:

Fri, March 22: Theatre Dublin, 7pm (Dublin, GA)
Sat, March 23: Georgia Southern University Performing Arts Center, 7pm (Statesboro, GA)
Sun, March 24: East Georgia State College, 3pm (Swainsboro, GA)
Mon, March 25: Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre at Augusta University, 7pm (Augusta, GA)
Tues, March 26: Roswell High School, 7pm (Roswell, GA)

Admission to these performances is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Reserve your tickets today flow.page/afband. This is a family-friendly, all-ages event.

The U.S. Air Force Band of the West will take the stage to celebrate Music in Our Schools Month. For nearly 40 years, March has been officially designated as the time to celebrate music education and it’s role in our nation. This performance will feature concert band classics, colorful storytelling as well as a debut performance of a new work by Henry Jackman (Kong: Skull Island, X-Men: First Class, Captain Phillips) The USAF Band of the West will honor those who have served and are serving, inspire the next generation of Americans and connect with audiences throughout Georgia!

Andy Wahl, Ammunition Wine + Whiskey Co-founder on Sports Sponsorships

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Rick is joined by Andy Wahl this week.

Daylight Wine & Spirits, one of Sonoma county’s fastest growing independent wineries, is going all in on its Ammunition whiskies and it’s paying off. And partnering with up and coming NASCAR star, Anthony Alfredo with his racing team.

The up-start known for its award winning Ammunition Wines, led by the versatile red blend “The Equalizer,” which has carried national success for the past several years, is blazing a new trail: Ammunition straight rye whiskey and Ammunition straight bourbon whiskey distilled with the ‘true spirit of America.’ Following a path forged by grit, grapes and now grain. Ammunition whiskies are aged, blended and finished for the modern drinker who recognizes uncompromising dedication to quality.

Daylight founder and winemaker, Andy Wahl, takes a winemaker’s approach to the whiskies, quite literally. Ammunition Straight Bourbon Whiskey is produced in small 2, 3 and 4 year-old batches and finished in French Bordeaux wine barrels, which once held Ammunition’s very own Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. The unique marriage between bourbon finished in wine casks paired with the relentless pursuit of independence and appreciation that true mastery requires a little ammunition – enter Ammunition Wine & Whiskey and it’s incredible sales trajectory.

“Our goal has always been to make wine that helps people discover their palate on their own terms and we’re thrilled to see that same energy is translating with our whiskey,” says Wahl. “We were able to create and cultivate an expectation of excellence with our Ammunition wines and we’re setting our expectations even higher with our whiskies. Simply put, our wines took flight so our whiskies could soar. I’ll raise a glass to that.”

Adding a little more heat, Ammunition Straight Rye Whiskey, a blend of 2, 3 and 4-year-old rye whiskey finished in French Burgundy oak barrels that housed Ammunition’s Pinot Noir, scored a 95 rating from the prestigious publication The Tasting Panel. Here is what they had to say:

“…this Sonoma County rye whiskey is a voluptuous beauty with plump, candied scents of butterscotch and nougat. Round medium-bodied, chockful of flavors that include peach, walnut, cocoa, and black cherry. The clean yet spiced cedar finish is extended and warming without a rush of alcohol. The aftertaste is striking and memorable.”

Both Ammunition Wine and Whiskies can be found in select grocery stores, restaurants and online partners nationwide. For more information on Ammunition Wine & Whiskies, visit daylightwineandspirits.com and follow along on Instagram at Drink Ammunition.

Since 2013 Andy Wahl and Bill Kerr, co-founders of Daylight Wine & Spirits have focused on producing world class wines and spirits that resonate with humans who drink. The Daylight team believes that making great wine and spirits requires equal parts grit as it does quality grapes and grain. The company combines traditional farming practices with tried-and-true techniques that aim to harness the natural beauty of each vintage, each barrel and every bottle to reach its full potential when it finally hits lips. The collection includes a lineup of brands that challenge convention and were created for people, not critics. For more information on Ammunition Wine & Whiskies, Badgerhound, Trollop, Mr. Moody’s Potion, Screen Door Cellars, visit: daylightwineandspirits.com.