Description

We're rejoined in this episode by Virginia middle school math teacher/blogger/podcaster/author Michael O'Connell.

We first chatted with Michael in S:3, E:18. He's back with us to chat about the re-emergence of a bonafide NFL team in the Beltway as well as a certain Washington Capitals' star who is reeling in Wayne Gretzky's NHL mark for career goals scored.

The main reason Michael is back is to discuss his latest book, "From Boxscores to Test Score: Turning Gameday Stats into Everyday Math Skills." It's the sort of mashup that only a sports junkie and school teacher could concoct and (in our opinion) is long overdue.

Then, after discussing education and how best to help the next generation succeed, we careen into another of Michael's passions: movies (he previously authored "The 365 Greatest Movies and the Days You Should Watch Them"). In this case we geeked out about sports movies.

Some of the movies referenced:

• Baseball: Moneyball, The Natural, Fever Pitch, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, The Sandlot
• Football: Rudy, Friday Night Lights, Remember the Titans, Varsity Blues, The Longest Yard
• Basketball: Hoosiers, Semi-Pro, The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh, Fast Break
• Hockey: Slapshot, Miracle
• Other Sports: Caddyshack, Rocky, Raging Bull, Blades of Glory, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Tin Cup, Seabiscuit, Victory, Breaking Away, Wimbledon

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