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How many threads intersect and impact the world of sports and the history of a country? On this episode, Larry invites author Ethan Scheiner to the show to discuss hisnewest bookThe Freedom to Win: A Cold War Story of the Courageous Hockey Team That Fought the Soviets for the Soul of Its People\u2014And Olympic Gold. Freedom to Win follows the story of the 1969 Czechoslovakian World Ice Hockey Championship team who used The Olympics to protest Soviet Russia\u2019s oppression. Larry and Ethan discuss the brothers at the heart of this story, Ji\u0159\xed and Jaroslav Hol\xedk, whose father had trained them to become world class athletes to escape the increasing influence of the Communist party. They also talk about the larger political situation in Czechoslovakia at the time, including Alexander Dubcek\u2019s relaxing of political censorship and the Soviet Union\u2019s military response. Ethan also explains the significance of the replica hockey jersey he\u2019s wearing, which is based on the jerseys the Czechoslovakian hockey team altered to protest the Soviet occupation.
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\nAfter the break, Larry sits down with Jon Langmead, author of Ballyhoo!: The Rough housers, Con Artists, and Wild men Who Invented Professional Wrestling. Larry and John discuss the history of wrestling styles, the development of over-the-top choreography moves, the public\u2019s changing perception of wrestling stars from athletes to entertainers and the physical impact of wrestling on the long-term health of famous wrestlers.
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