On this episode of The 40/40 Vision Podcast, we welcome author Ray Hartjen to discuss his book, “Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh?”. We discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 70s and how the Steelers helped the city go through a deindustrialization transformation and become a new economy success story. The conversation also covers the Steelers' rivalry with the Raiders and the Immaculate Reception, a famous play in Steelers history. The guest explains the context of the play and the differences between football in the 70s and today. The conversation discusses the Immaculate Reception and its significance in the evolution of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It explores the impact of the play on the team's reputation and the city of Pittsburgh. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced during the research process and the reaction to the book. The passion and relatability of the Steelers to the city are highlighted, as well as the connection between sports and community. Buy Me, Myself & My Multiple Myeloma and Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh at booksellers everywhere, or visit rayhartjen.com. Connect with Ray at rayhartjen.com, @RayHartjen, and linkedin.com/in/rayhartjen/

In this episode of The 4040 Vision Podcast, the hosts discuss the US Open from a historical perspective. They explore the prestige of the tournament compared to Wimbledon and the traditions associated with each. They also delve into the dominance of American players at the US Open, particularly Serena and Venus Williams, and the most successful American male players. The conversation touches on the factors that contribute to upsets at the US Open, such as the end-of-year timing, physical demands, and the influence of the crowd. The hosts also discuss the legacy of Rafael Nadal and his dominance on clay courts. The conversation discusses the current state of tennis and focuses on the US Open tournament. The hosts talk about the playing styles of top players like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, and how they have influenced the game. They also discuss the different surfaces in tennis and the strategies required to play on each surface. The conversation then shifts to the US Open and the chances of American players in the tournament. They talk about Jessica Pegula's journey to the finals in the women's category and the semifinal match between Taylor Fritz and Francis Tiafoe in the men's category. The hosts also discuss the drought of American men's tennis champions and the potential for a new generation of American players to emerge.

On this episode of The 40/40 Vision Podcast, Robert Littal, founder of Black Sports Online (BSO), shares his journey in sports journalism and the creation of his website. He started BSO as a way to keep his name out there and provide a different perspective in sports media. The website gained traction through social media and breaking unique stories. In this conversation, Robert Littal discusses his approach to sports journalism and the evolution of his website, Black Sports Online. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining credibility and not crossing the line into tabloid journalism. Littal also talks about the expansion of coverage from sports to entertainment and the necessity of adapting to the changing media landscape. He highlights the growth potential of the WNBA and the importance of marketing players as individuals. Littal also touches on topics such as conference realignment in college football, the NFL's parity, and the internationalization of the NBA.