Sam Mills’ Lasting Legacy with Paul Domowitch & Phil Martelli’s Mission to Change Youth Sports

On this edition of The Heart of Sports with Jason Springer & Jeff Cohen, we explore two very different stories connected by perseverance, leadership, and the impact sports can have far beyond wins and losses.

Award-winning NFL writer and longtime Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Paul Domowitch joins us to discuss his new book, Just Give Me a Chance to Fail: The Life of NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker Sam Mills. Paul takes us inside Mills’ remarkable journey from an undersized player repeatedly told he couldn't make it to one of the most respected linebackers in NFL history. We discuss Mills’ Philadelphia roots, his relationship with Vic Fangio, the story behind “Keep Pounding,” his long road to Canton, and the legacy that remains more than two decades after his death. Paul also gives his thoughts on the Eagles and what to expect from their offense this season.

Then, Philadelphia basketball legend Phil Martelli returns to the show to talk about his new Philadelphia Coaching Academy and his mission to give volunteer youth basketball coaches the tools they need to teach the game the right way. Coach Martelli explains why youth practices need structure and purpose, what parents can do to support coaches without interfering, and why youth sports should be about development, joy, and education rather than scholarships and unrealistic expectations. We also discuss the changing world of college basketball and why Martelli believes coaches who remain transformational rather than transactional can still succeed.