Well, I am absolutely honored to have with me as a guest on Black Diamonds,

one of the great writers of the 21st century, Bill Rodin.

Bill Rodin is an American sports journalist and author who formerly worked as a columnist

for the New York Times from 1983 until 2016 when he

joined ESPN's formerly the undefeated now and Scape as a writer at large where he is still

currently employed. Rodin is also a visiting senior practitioner at Arizona State University, as well as the director of the Rodin Fellows Program.

Grew up in Chicago, Illinois, I understand, and went to Morgan State University.

The Morgan State.

The Morgan State University, which raises my first question, did you get to know the great Joe Black?

Yeah, you know, I got to know, and thank you so much, Bob.

It's really an honor to be on this side of the microphone.

Normally, whatever I call, man, all these years we've known each other, I'm always calling you to interview you or just to get some information about this and that. So it's really an honor to be on this side of it. And I know you asked me a question, but as I said off mic, I really admire you, man. I admire how you have carried the flag for Negro League Baseball,

what you've done with the museum, how you've been consistent,

how you've been tireless, and it's really a model that we should really show young people

about having a cause, being passionate about that cause,

and being consistent and persistent.

So I really admire you, man.

And about Joe Black, I learned about Joe Black, just like you learned after the fact.

Yeah.

I learned about him after I left Morgan.

And I learned about all these people, man, who went through Morgan, including Joe

Black.

...