Mike Freeman is an NFL writer who has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe and many more. Freeman currently writes for Bleacher Report and has written multiple books, including biographies of Bobby Bowden and Jim Brown. In this Sports Byline interview, he discusses his book, Snake: The Legendary Life of Ken Stabler, and how the NFL has changed over the years.

Author Erica Westly’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Slate, the New Republic and many more. She wrote Fastpitch: The Untold History of Softball and Women Who Made the Game, which was a finalist for the 2017 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports. She discusses the rise of women’s softball and the key figures that elevated the game.

Jon Kingdon started as an intern for controversial Raiders coach and owner Al Davis, and eventually became one of Davis’s confidants.Kingdon recalls memories from working closely with Davis including his run ins with various players, his stretching of the rules and more from the book he co-wrote, Al Davis: Behind the Raiders Shield: Untold Stories from Longtime Davis Confidants.

Buz McKim, NASCAR Hall of Fame historian, NASCAR sign painter, and author talks about growing up in racing culture and how he ended up designing the paint jobs of two Daytona 500 winners.McKim explains the process of finding interesting pieces for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and some of the exhibits he’s worked on.

Paul Beston, author of The Boxing Kings: When American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring talks about his book and the history of America’s fascination with heavyweight champs.His book focuses on the history of boxing in America through the careers of John L. Sullivan, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Lewis, Rocky Marciano, Mohamad Ali and Mike Tyson; iconic figures that had the ability to appeal to people beyond the ring.

In this Sports Byline interview, Ron Barr talks to Cam Perron, who developed an interest in the Negro League baseball players when he was just 12 years old. Perron has since been chronicling his research on the players and the league, and was featured on HBO’s Real Sports.Perron shares stories from the Negro League players he’s become close with in his research and gives insight into this overlooked part of baseball history.

David Vobora, a former NFL linebacker who played 4 seasons with the Rams & Seahawks, talks about drawing motivation from being the last pick of the 2008 draft and forming the Adaptive Training Foundation for physically impaired athletes and veterans.Vobora discusses how he overcame his struggles with opioid addiction and found a new purpose after the NFL helping others restore their confidence and find hope.

Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito played 18 years in the NHL. He’s widely considered one of the best hockey players of all time, and ranks sixth all time in goals. After his playing career, Esposito was a founder of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, where he’s still part of the broadcasting team.This interview looks back at his time playing youth hockey, how the game has changed and his playing career.

John Amaechi is a retired NBA basketball player and the first former NBA player to publicly come out. Amaechi is regarded as "one of the world's most high-profile gay athletes.” Since his playing career, Amaechi has broadcast NBA games in England and owns a consulting company. Amaechi discusses his journey from the UK to high school in Toledo, Ohio, coming out and his basketball career.

Sam Smith, author of theNew York Times best-seller The Jordan Rules talks about his book, Hard Labor: The Battle that Birthed the Billion-Dollar NBA, which details exactly how and why the NBA, and NBA players, make so much money.Smith explains the significance of the historic Oscar Robertson v. National Basketball Association lawsuit that allowed players free agency for the first time.

Morten Andersen, a Pro Football Hall of Fame place kicker, played for 25 seasons with the Saints, Falcons, Giants, Chiefs and Vikings. He talks about what it takes to be a great athlete over a long period of time.Andersen—who was born in Denmark—tells how he had never kicked a football until age 17 when he came to America as an exchange student and how it felt to hear he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

NBA Hall of Fame center Bill Walton, one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, looks back on his incredible career in this 2016 Sports Byline Classic interview. He talks about his New York Times best-seller, Back from the Dead, and how he was able to overcome injuries and physical obstacles to reach basketball greatness.