Muncie, Delaware County and Ball State have produced outstanding players and coaches over the decades. A new podcast from a familiar name puts the sport’s rich heritage into the spotlight.
Doug Zaleski, who covered the local sports scene for the Muncie Evening News and Muncie Star-Telegram for 26 years and hosted a local radio sports talk show on WXFN 1340 for three years, has launched a new project to bring these special people back into the local conversation.
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Muncie Sports Focus debuts this week with Zaleski interviewing former Wes Dell and Muncie South basketball coach John Robbins. He retired from coaching after leading the Rebels to a semistate runner-up finish in 1988-89 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“It’s fair to say that many of the star athletes and coaches of the past 30-40 years have disappeared from the front pages,” Zaleski said. “Many of them have left coaching or ended their athletic careers. My goal is to bring them back into the spotlight through interviews discussing their careers in their respective sports.”
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The podcast airs every Monday on four platforms: YouTube.com, Spotify, X (formerly Twitter) and the Facebook accounts of Doug Zaleski and Muncie Sports Spotlight.
The next podcast airs on Monday, March 2, with former Royton High School standout and Miami (Ohio) player and coach Jerry Peirson. Up next in the lineup are former Wapahani and Delta basketball coach Paul Keller on Monday, March 9, former Ball State star basketball player Paris McCurdy on March 16, and former Muncie Central and Ball State basketball legend Chandler Thompson on March 23.
“This region has produced many sports legends who have excelled in high school, college, professional sports and the Olympics,” Zaleski said. “I want to bring their success and merit back to life.”
This podcast is generously supported by Ruoff Mortgage of Muncie, Pizza King, Walls Furniture and Mattress, OGG Auto Glass, Barnett Garage Doors, Clancy’s Car Wash and Albany Golf Club.
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Listeners will have the opportunity to receive free pizza from Pizza King, a $25 gift card from Clancy’s, free golf at Albany Golf Club and discounts on work done by Barnett Garage Doors.
This article originally appeared in Muncie Star Press: Muncie-area sports legends highlighted in new podcast