We love repeat-Moonlighters and this week we bring back an all-time great. Pat Hoberg isn’t just a top-tier Moonlighter though, he is also the number one umpire in Major League Baseball. The Urbandale native was the star of episode 103 when he was an up and comer in the Majors. He returns to the pod as arguably the best umpire in the world!

This week the dream comes true. As the White Sox and Yankees pack up and head for home, Tim and Neil get to reflect on one of the most amazing sporting events to ever take place in Iowa. The Field of Dreams movie site went through a roughly 2-year transformation to become the home of a major league-caliber baseball field. Tim and Neil spent the day with 8,000 of their new best friends taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of something Ray Kinsella could’ve only dreamed of.

Here at the Moonlight Graham Show, we have a pretty good track record of knowing when to hold ‘em, when to fold’ em, and when to walk away. In fact, part of being an Underdog is knowing your limitations but being willing to go for broke sometimes. This week we welcome a pro gambler named, well, let’s just call him Tom Hagen.

This week’s Moonlighter started his career in Iowa, circled the globe, and ended up on top of the world. Nick Nurse played in the red and gold of the Kuemper Knights but more recently has been sporting the gold of his NBA championship ring as head coach of the Toronto Raptors. His journey to the top of the basketball world included stops around the US and Europe before arriving in Canada. No matter how far he travels, Nick Nurse is an Iowan that the whole state is proud to claim.

Kurt Warner has perhaps the most iconic underdog story in NFL history and is one of the best athletes in Iowa history. Now, as he works as a broadcaster, high school coach, and #1 fan for his sons, the Kurt Warner story is being made into a movie titled “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, which is set to be released in December.

Joe lived the moment that every little leaguer dreams of. Not just a game on the line, but a world championship, and he rose to the occasion. This week, Tim dissects that moment as well as Joe’s impressive career, faith, the Strike of ‘94, and a homer off of fellow Moonlighter, Iowa State University’s Dave Flattery.

This is our interview with NBA good guy Nick Collison, now formerly of the OKC Thunder. In this episode, Nick joins us in studio for a conversation with Tim and special guest host Jack Brownlee. This freewheeling discussion covers player salaries, the genius of Roy Williams as a teacher, Kirk Hinrich, the time he balled with Obama, and his best Michael Jordan story. During the last part of the episode, Nick shares his experience growing up in Iowa, including his batboy days at Saint Edmond High School with Tim and Andy.

Tim calls American curling gold medal-winning John Shuster to talk about the curling phenomenon, his comeback story after getting cut from the team tryouts for the Olympics, and of course, the real Moonlight Graham.

John is our first Gold Medalist on the show.

Adam Greenberg was one of only two players in MLB history to be hit by a pitch in their only plate without ever taking the field. 7 years later, an online movement led him to be signed by the Marlins for a one-day contract and one more at bat. In this episode, Adam and Tim discuss his remarkable story.

It was a special honor to sit down for a conversation with the distinguished Adam Emmenecker. Adam was THE cinderella story of the cinderella team of college basketball in 2007-2008 and was very gracious in sharing stories from his career.

Topics of discussion include the vital role that innocent hazing plays in team camaraderie inside the world of professional basketball life and the thrill and agony of a classic March Madness run.