I've been getting many questions over the past 24 hours as to how Bob McCown came to be my guest for episode 2000 of Toronto Mike'd. I'm also getting many "has hell frozen over?" comments. So before I get into it, listen to Bob McCown on Toronto Mike'd. I promise you won't be disappointed.
When I was approaching episode 500, back in the summer of 2019, I thought that was pretty cool. At the time, very few podcasts could make that claim. I had always wanted Bob McCown on Toronto Mike'd, because I had spent so many hours commuting home from work, listening to him on Prime Time Sports. And, as I approached episode 500, I had had so many conversations in which he was referenced, and therefore had collected many, many questions for the man. So I asked him if he'd be my guest for milestone episode 500. The tweet below was how he blew me off.
I was surprised by his response. It was as if he had confused Toronto Mike and my blog for another person and site. One theory at the time was that he confused me with "Mike in Boston", a guy who also wrote about Toronto sports radio and was highly critical of Bob McCown's radio show. By the way, I've met "Mike in Boston" for coffee, and he's a swell chap.
So that was 2019, and I found his rejection unnecessarily dramatic and public. I far preferred the Jeff O'Neill email reply of "no thanks". As a result, I didn't ask Bob McCown again until earlier this month, although others lobbied on my behalf.
Found it @torontomike https://t.co/BPR6sFROio
— Brian Gerstein (@RaptorsDevotee) October 24, 2026
So episode 2000 was approaching, and I actually recorded a completely different episode 2000, but during a bike ride I felt like I needed to take a bigger swing. So, for only the second time, and for the first time in over 7 years, I asked Bob McCown if he'd be my guest for a milestone episode of Toronto Mike'd. This time, he replied with a simple "ok".
Of course I wanted Bob in the TMDS basement studio, but he explained that as he recovered from his strokes, it was better for him to do it via Zoom. I agreed to that, we set the date and time, and we chatted for over 90 minutes. I didn't edit a second out of the audio you hear in the podcast feed. As usual, it's completely "live to tape".
The feedback has been extraordinary, and I'm very glad people like it. Many have said it's worth the wait. I agree.
It won't be the last time you hear Bob McCown on Toronto Mike'd.
