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Former Falcons star Tim Green refuses to let ALS silence him as father-son podcast creates lasting legacy

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Former Falcons star Tim Green refuses to let ALS silence him as father-son podcast creates lasting legacy

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Former NFL first-round pick Tim Green has one of the most impressive resumes someone can have. 

Green, 61, played eight seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, was a broadcaster for “NFL on Fox,” has written nearly 40 books and became a New York Times best-selling author, and is also an attorney. 

Green announced he was diagnosed with ALS in 2018, but his diagnosis has not stopped him from continuing to add to his lengthy resume. 

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Tim Green, center, Troy Green, left, and Ty Green. (Courtesy of the Green family)

Green and his son Troy began a podcast called “Nothing Left Unsaid.” Green lost his ability to speak due to ALS, but speaks using eye-tracking and his AI-generated voice. 

Tim and Troy spoke to Fox News Digital about the podcast, which Tim said is “one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done.”

“Through each conversation we are not only raising awareness about ALS and the journey we’re on, but we’re also creating memories,” Tim said.

“Strengthening our bond and showing others what love, resilience, and humor can look like in the face of adversity. Troy brings his own voice, perspective, and energy to the podcast. Doing this together reminds me that even in the hardest moments there is joy, connection, and purpose.”

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However, Green initially felt the world did not need another podcast and was reluctant to start it. 

“The inspiration for starting the podcast came from Troy. I was reluctant at first. I thought the world didn’t need another podcast, but Troy kept badgering me to do it. Finally I agreed to do it on the condition that I could honor my Christian faith in every episode and use the platform to raise money and awareness for ALS,” Green said.

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Tim Green looks on through the lens of an iPhone camera. (Courtesy of the Green family)

“Doing the podcast with my son Troy gave it more meaning, it became a way for us to share honest conversations, laugh together, and talk about life, football, ALS and everything in between. We wanted to create a space that was real, hopeful, and maybe even a little inspiring for others. At the heart of it, the podcast is about staying engaged, staying curious, and reminding ourselves and others to leave nothing left unsaid.”

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Troy, one of Green’s five kids, said the podcast has given him an opportunity to hear stories about his dad that he had not heard before. 

“It’s awesome. It’s fun, I say to people, my dad’s one of the most humble people. If I achieved half of what he did everyone would know about it, but I never hear any of the stories. “Like I never hear about when he used to play or all the good football stories and war stories. I’ve heard of him battling back from injuries or sacking John Elway or whatever it might be, I always hear it from other people,” Troy said.

“It’s really fun for me because I learn, we have some awesome guests on that we get to hear their stories and learn a lot about, but I also get to hear a lot of stuff, people talking about my dad,” Troy said. 

Troy recalled one tale he found about his father that Dallas Cowboys great Troy Aikman told on the podcast.

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Defensive end Tim Green, #76 of the Atlanta Falcons, looks on as he stands on the sidelines during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on Sept. 19, 1993 in San Francisco. (George Rose/Getty Images)

“At the end of the episode, we thought we were wrapping up and Troy Aikman is like, ‘You know what, Tim, if it’s alright I have something I want to say’ we’re like, ‘Yeah, sure, what’s going on?’” Troy said. 

“It was (Aikman’s) last home game, he was getting booed by the home crowd, and on the first play the receiver was supposed to run a slant and ran an out, so he threw the ball, and it looked like a terrible pass. But really it was a miscommunication on their side. The point of the story is, the crowd started booing him and my dad, who didn’t know Troy Aikman at that time, they played against each other but then after my dad retired and started announcing games, my dad stuck up for Troy Aikman. Basically, saying the fans should appreciate what they have, he’s an All-Pro and won the Super Bowls and shouldn’t be treating him this way.”

“That’s something that I never knew and never heard of. My dad’s never talked about it. Frankly, I don’t know if my dad remembered it, but this many years later, however many years it’s been, 20–30 years later, and it still stuck with Troy Aikman enough for him to bring it up. It’s really cool to hear stories like that.”

Tim said his approach to podcasting has been shaped by his experience as both a writer and broadcaster and those roles have been “incredibly valuable.”

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“As a writer I learned how to craft stories that connect with people. How to find the emotional core, the human truth that resonates, that skill helps me bring depth and intention to each episode. Making sure we aren’t just talking but really telling a story that matters. Broadcasting taught me how to communicate clearly, how to listen actively, and how to engage an audience in real time,” Tim said. 

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Author Tim Green attends the 17th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books – Day 2 at USC on April 22, 2012 in Los Angeles. (David Livingston/Getty Images)

“Those are essential in podcasting, especially when you are having honest unscripted conversations and creating space for meaningful dialogue. Ultimately, both writing and broadcasting gave me the tools to connect. Podcast allows me to use those tools in a deeply personal way, especially when I’m sharing with mic with my son or speaking about ALS and my faith. It’s storytelling with heart, and that’s where I feel most at home.”

After Tim was diagnosed with ALS, he launched TackleALS, a campaign dedicated to raising funds for ALS research in Massachusetts. The campaign has raised over $10 million since its inception.

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“Raising over 10 million dollars for ALS research at Mass General has been incredibly humbling. Every dollar represents a step closer to answers for treatments, and ultimately to a cure. It’s more than just a campaign; it’s a mission fueled by urgency, hope and the unwavering belief that together we can change the future for people living with ALS,” Tim said.

“When I was diagnosed, I knew I wanted to turn that moment into action. TackleALS gave me a purpose beyond the diagnosis. It became a way to channel my energy into something meaningful, to fight not just for myself but everyone facing this disease.

“TackleALS has connected me to a community of people that includes researchers, supporters, families and patients who refuse to give up. It’s a reminder that we are not alone in this fight and that together we are making real progress.”

Tim is not the only former NFL player who has been diagnosed with ALS. Former New Orleans Saints defensive back Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. 

Tim credits Gleason’s “warrior spirit” for inspiring him in his own battle with the disease.

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Defensive back Tim Green of the Atlanta Falcons, #99, goes up against offensive tackle Jackie Slater of the Los Angeles Rams, #78, during a game at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta on Sept. 10, 1989. (Getty Images)

“Steve and his team have been amazing, his warrior spirit lifts me up and inspires me. Like so many others living with ALS, I often think, ‘If Steve can do it, why can’t I?’ He’s become more than just an inspiration, he’s become a trusted friend,” Tim said.

“The work being done by the Gleason foundation is truly remarkable, providing assistive technology, essential equipment, and support services that empower people living with ALS to live with greater independence and dignity.”

For all the incredible accomplishments Tim has achieved in his life, the thing that he is most proud of is his family.

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“I know it sounds like a cliché, but the thing that I am proudest of is my family. Anyone who knows me well will tell you this, my wife and I have been married for over 36 years. All our kids are special, I mean really special,” Tim said. 

“Our oldest son, Thane, has two Master’s degrees and is a psychologist for kids. He lives down the street and has a wife and three kids. Our oldest daughter is a doctor of veterinary medicine, and she lives across the country road on a farm with her husband and three kids. Troy is our middle child and lives right next door with his wife and four kids. Troy is a lawyer and entrepreneur.”

“Our youngest daughter, Tate, graduated from Harvard, went to work for the NFL, got married and has a new baby. Our youngest son, Ty, is a senior in high school, and he is committed to play lacrosse at Hamilton College, about 75 minutes away. The rest (of my accomplishments), compared to my family, are just bawbles.”

Former Syracuse Orange player Tim Green, surrounded by his family, watches as his son delivers a message during a halftime ceremony to retire his number 72 jersey at the Carrier Dome on Sept. 14, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports)

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Tim can also add that he has been an outstanding role model to his kids.

“How lucky I am to be born into a situation where you have a role model like that?” Troy said.

“Obviously, my parents have (been) so much more than just a role model in terms of love and care and support. But, I mean how lucky am I to wake up in a house with your superhero.”

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Caitlin Clark’s return falls flat after Fever coach limits her in loss to shorthanded Sparks

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Caitlin Clark’s return falls flat after Fever coach limits her in loss to shorthanded Sparks

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All eyes were on Caitlin Clark on Wednesday night as she made her anticipated return from injury in a road matchup in Los Angeles.

But instead of a triumphant comeback, the Fever spent the entire night chasing the Sparks as Clark’s rough return fueled a 106-92 rout.

The superstar never found a groove, looking completely out of sync in her return from a back injury.

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Caitlin Clark huddles with teammates as the Indiana Fever battle the Sparks. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) ((Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images))

Much of that disjointed performance falls squarely on head coach Stephanie White, who kept Clark on a ridiculously tight leash by limiting her to just 16 minutes. The stop-and-go approach could have sabotaged any chance for the phenom to establish a rhythm.

Clark finished with just 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Her minus-16 plus-minus told the story.

The Los Angeles Sparks were severely shorthanded, taking the floor without stars Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink.

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Yet while a depleted Sparks roster played to win, Indiana spent the night over-managing its biggest asset.

With Clark on a minutes restriction and Aliyah Boston out of the lineup, Kelsey Mitchell was forced to shoulder the entire offensive burden.

Mitchell did her part, pouring in 29 points while shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Caitlin Clark orchestrates the Fever offense as Indiana battles the Los Angeles Sparks in primetime action. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) ((Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images))

But one hot hand couldn’t stop an efficient LA squad.

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The Sparks shot 45% from three-point range, going 9-of-20 from deep to cruise to the 106-92 victory.

White’s next move is to sit Clark against the Mercury on Thursday while Boston returns.

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After Wednesday’s loss to a shorthanded Sparks team, it’s fair to question whether Indiana’s cautious approach is working. The Fever dropped to 12-9.

Caitlin Clark and Dearica Hamby face off as Fever and Sparks battle at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Photo by Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images))

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Mookie Betts’ eighth-inning single gives Dodgers the win over the Rockies

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Mookie Betts’ eighth-inning single gives Dodgers the win over the Rockies

Mookie Betts’ first hit this series against the Rockies couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. With the crack of the ball against his bat, Tommy Edman scored from third, giving the Dodgers the lead.

And as Betts reached first, he pointed to Freddie Freeman, whose single put Edman in scoring position. It had taken a team effort to overcome another middling start from Roki Sasaki, and Betts, who had little to show before his game-winning hit, took the chance to highlight the joint contribution in the Dodgers’ 4-3 rubber-match win over Colorado (38-56).

“It feels great,” Betts said of his nine-pitch battle. “Helping the boys win, that’s really all it is. We play the game to win, and coming through in a big moment is kind of what, when you’re a kid, playing in the backyard, getting that hit is what you always strive to do, and fortunately, I was able to do it.”

Given a three-run lead in the first inning, brought to the Dodgers by a wild pitch and Kyle Tucker’s two-run, line-drive single to left field, Sasaki seemed set up for success.

Still, he gave away the lead as quickly as it came. In the second inning, he left a fastball too far over the plate, and third baseman Kyle Karros drove the ball over the left-center wall. The slider he dealt two batters later to second baseman Edouard Julien also crossed the zone too far over the plate, and Julien rounded the bases with another homer. In the third, a sacrifice fly by Mickey Moniak evened the scored, 3-3.

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Sasaki’s troubles this season have been hard to pin down since his last win on May 23, as Sasaki tries to claw back the triple-digit velocity that’s escaped him as of late.

Against the Rockies, his fastball topped out at 99.1 miles per hour before steadily dropping to 98. He had managed five strikeouts in his six innings when manager Dave Roberts replaced him with Jack Dreyer, though the three earned runs couldn’t be ignored.

But Roberts also acknowledged the possibility that the pitcher had been tipping his pitches, possibly since he was playing in Japan, and Sasaki has tried to address it after a three-inning, six-run start last week. Even if he had fully self-corrected, his control issues remain. In the third inning, he walked the tying runner, Brett Sullivan.

“I’ve been working on a lot of things like the tipping stuff,” Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo. “Also, I need to make quality pitches.”

Sasaki regained some of his confidence in the fourth when he worked out of a two-base jam with two strikeouts and a flyball to right, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Roberts.

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“You can see the demeanor walking off the mound, the confidence,” Roberts said. “For me, it was more of let him end on a high note, feeling good about his outing, and then go from there.”

The Dodgers’ problems were compounded by Alex Call wasting the team’s two challenges in his at-bat in the first inning when the team had already taken the lead. And maybe it would’ve been excusable if Call had driven in the runners on first and second, but instead he ended the inning on a strikeout, stranding both. Roberts called the situation an “outlier” and didn’t feel as though he needed to have a conversation with Call regarding the situation.

After the three-run first, the Dodgers (61-33) remained hitless until Max Muncy laced a double down the right-field line in the sixth, though to little avail. As the innings ticked forward, Colorado’s chances seemed to increase. The Rockies hold the best league batting average (.297) in the eighth and ninth innings (the Dodgers are fourth with .268). And the Dodgers relievers, within the same constraints, have a 3.83 ERA — not bad, but not in the top 10 either.

Third baseman Max Muncy can’t get his glove on a line-drive double by Kyle Karros in the fourth inning.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

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So when Alex Vesia struggled against the Rockies in the eighth inning and Muncy suffered a throwing error, Colorado seemed in position to score with the bases loaded and one out. Vesia struck out TJ Rumfield and Edgardo Henriquez (4-0), his replacement, retired Karros on a fly ball to right.

After Betts’ single allowed the Dodgers to take the lead, Tanner Scott (13) shut down the Rockies with back-to-back strikeouts, avoiding the team’s eighth series loss of the season.

“Didn’t feel great,” Roberts said. “Fortunately, we won a series, but that’s not the kind of way you want to do it.”

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Justin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: ‘I’ve realized that time has come’

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Justin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: ‘I’ve realized that time has come’

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One of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball will be hanging up his cleats after this season.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander announced on Wednesday that the 2026 season will be his last.

Amid an injury-riddled season with the Detroit Tigers, Verlander decided it’s time to go.

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander watches from the dugout during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in Detroit June 21, 2026. (David Rodriguez-Munoz/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

“This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally. I’ve always believed that as long as I could compete at the level I expect of myself, I’d keep playing. I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar. I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come,” Verlander said in a social media post.

“While I’m fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I’ve decided this will be my last. It’s fitting that I get to finish where it all started – with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity.”

Verlander inked a one-year deal with the Tigers, with whom he spent his first 12½ seasons before being traded to the Houston Astros, in the offseason. In Houston, he returned to dominance, winning both of his World Series titles and two of his Cy Young Awards.

“Baseball has given me more than I could have imagined. It taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of continuing to adapt and evolve. I’ve been fortunate to play with and against incredible players, for outstanding organizations, and compete in-front of fans who deeply appreciate the game,” Verlander added in his announcement.

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Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros celebrates after the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park Nov. 5, 2022, in Houston, Texas. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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“To every teammate, coach, player, clubhouse attendant, and fan who has been part of this journey – thank you. It’s been a privilege to share the field with you. To my family, especially my wife Kate, thank you for standing beside me through every season, every rehab, and every high and low. I couldn’t have done this without you. It’s time for the next chapter. But first, I’m excited to finish this season the only way I know how – with everything I’ve got.”

Verlander is the active leader with 3,554 strikeouts, which is good for eighth all-time. He needs 21 to surpass Don Sutton and 87 to pass Tom Seaver.

The 43-year-old made his MLB debut in 2005 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award the following season in what was just a small glimpse of what was to come.

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Verlander was a Cy Young Award finalist on four other occasions, consistently near the top of the leaderboard in just about every pitching stat. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred gave Verlander a legend’s exemption to this year’s Midsummer Classic, making him a 10-time All-Star.

One could argue that Verlander should have at least one more Cy Young Award on his mantle, but he is on the fast track to Cooperstown and very much in the conversation to join Mariano Rivera as the only player unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame.

Verlander’s best season came in 2022, when he pitched to a career-best 1.75 ERA along with a 0.829 WHIP. However, that came after he missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery for an injury he suffered after pitching just one inning in the abbreviated 2020 season.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning Aug. 22, 2023, in Houston.  (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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He won his first Cy Young Award in 2011, when he was also awarded the MVP Award, and his second in 2019. Verlander’s 11 seasons between his first and final Cy Young Awards are the second-most behind Roger Clemens, who had 18 seasons between his first and seventh.

Verlander led the majors in innings and WHIP four times while recording the most strikeouts in three seasons.

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