CINCINNATI — In October, John Popovich started “Cleaning Out My Desk” and tweeting photos of what he had stuck away all these years in preparation for his retirement this week.
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 64: In honor of a Bengals win. My view from a corner of the end zone in Super Bowl XXIII when Stanford Jennings ran back the kick 93 yards for a TD. Bengals led 13-6. They got outscored 14-3 in 4Q. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/zo064f9zzr
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) December 3, 2019
More than 70 tweets and photos later, what the WCPO Sports Director collected in 40 years is a chronicle of decades of Cincinnati sports history - and some WCPO history, too.
Below are more of Popo’s tweets from his memorable career here. Find all of them at twitter.com/Popo_WCPOSports.
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Join us tonight at 6 and 11 for Popo’s final sportscasts and a celebration of his career.
RELATED: Celebrating Popo: The ‘voice’ of Cincinnati sports for 40 years.
Cleaning out the Desk: I came across this picture from 40 years ago. Somebody called to say Ali was getting a haircut at Stag's barbershop in Avondale. I was skeptical, so they put Ali on the phone to convince me. My brush with "The Greatest".@WCPO pic.twitter.com/1LqjIiKXrD
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 16, 2019
Cleaning out the Desk. Part 6: Chatting with Johnny Vander Meer, the only pitcher to throw back-to-back no hitters. He did it in 1938. I think this photo was from an Old Timers game in St Pete in the early 80's. Wonderful man.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/yoXAUJIesZ
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 17, 2019
Cleaning out the Desk Part 8: Finding evidence of good times in Bengal-land. One of the greatest guys to ever cover and one of the strongest leaders the team ever had, Boomer Esiason.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/sHNPpIUe5w
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 21, 2019
Cleaning out the Desk Part 11: I found this program from 1981 when Cincinnati hosted the Davis Cup Finals. McEnroe, Vilas, Tanner and Clerc. At the Coliseum of all places! It's when I realized how much this town loves tennis.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/hvb4XlGAsP
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 22, 2019
Cleaning out the Desk: As I drove into town in July of 1979, the Stingers were folding. I heard it on the radio. The CHL Stingers played the next season and here's a ticket for their game against the U.S. Olympic team. All it did was perform a "Miracle" 2 months later.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/Gz9FRfL1BE
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 29, 2019
Cleaning out the Desk Part 15: Found my favorite bobblehead which involves my favorite 2 shortstops, Omar Vizquel, the slickest(sorry Ozzie) and Dave Concepcion, the most clutch. Indians gave this out. Both should be Hall of Famers.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/cGkIh7ViCq
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 24, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 19: I found this Cincinnati Suds program from 1982. They were a pro softball team that became very popular when baseball went on strike in 1981. Played at Ross Park in St. Bernard. Lot of local softball legends on the team.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/emNMOZImXI
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 30, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 22: The night we sent the wonderful Paula Faris off to the Big Time. Dennis Janson, producer Mike Mattingly, Paula, Some old guy and photographer Brooks Meriwether.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/CnGjWmK0az
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) October 31, 2019
Cleaning Out the Desk Part 28: Remember the Slammers from the mid 80's? Played at the Gardens. Larry Brown's brother Herb was the head coach. "Moose" Campbell became a fan favorite.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/syT4lC1FXr
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 5, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk: The Secret to Success-having talented people around you. I found this picture from about 1990 this morning. An hour later, Bill Hemmer called me. I talked with Murray Cook last month. Saw DJ and Lap on Sunday. Fun times.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/ffwObaaBoe
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 7, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 38: The Hall of Fame House. Shawn Jones, Sean Dunster, Dennis Janson, Kathrine Nero, Greg Reams and I squeezed into this Cooperstown bungalow while covering Tony, Sparky and Marty in 2000. Tight fit.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/0QnV2TCQVX
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 8, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 39: Got this from the late Roselyn Mckittrick of the Milan Hoosiers Museum. A picture of the old water tower with signatures from the players on the 1954 state title team. Do yourself a favor this season and pay a visit to some Hoosier history.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/4L8Vm5kFL6
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 8, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 40: The Hairy 80's. At Latonia with Steve Cauthen and PJ Cooksey. Years later I got to meet Cauthen's Triple Crown partner "Affirmed". Was there ever a more thrilling 3 races than Affirmed and Alydar?@WCPO pic.twitter.com/GymW6e5EVj
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 12, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 44: Warm memories on a cold November night. "The Hit King" passes Ty Cobb. The city was lit.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/418gzK8VPw
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 13, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 46: Before he went into the Hall of Fame in 1998, Anthony Munoz was honored by USC and his hometown of Ontario, California. We got to go along. Many talked about the "moon shots" he used to hit in baseball.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/jC7WBWXAfQ
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 13, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 47: The early days of Sports of All Sorts with Bob Hillman and Jack Moran. A promotion from around 1981-82. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/yTvAfG7fxz
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 14, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 48: Was there ever a bad interview with Johnny Bench? Always with something to say, always funny and quick. You had to pay attention.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/3c2SnOZSTl
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 14, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 53. This is like one of those old entries from "Ripley's Believe it Not." We were all shufflin' in January of 1989.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/6w0R3WPElS
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 20, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 54: Happy 50th Birthday to Ken Griffey Jr. Got to cover him in 1987 when he was the first overall pick in the draft. Then the All Star game in Arlington in 1995.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/rrBhFzHSUj
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 22, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 55: Ran across an envelope with a bunch of old baseball cards. Loved cards then, still love them now. Two Hall of Famers.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/oXUqN5WTfS
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 22, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 58. A Quiz to finish the week. Here's UC's media guide prior to playing Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl on January 1, 2009. How many of these guys can you identify?@WCPO pic.twitter.com/E7NOROYXH6
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 23, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 62: The final game at Cleveland Stadium in 1995. Dawg Pound and Jim Brown. Browns beat Bengals 26-10. Still hurts. I still hate Art Modell@WCPO pic.twitter.com/pY1TjbPOUi
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) November 27, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 65. Captain Comeback-Roger Staubach. I interviewed him live soon after his retirement and he started twitching, purposely. He was responding to a question about his numerous concussions. He was yanking my chain. He broke out laughing. Real funny.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/hPzlCgBsfW
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) December 3, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 66: Our Sports team in 1986. Steve Esposito, myself, Dennis Janson, and some lefthanded blonde kid. DJ, Boomer and I went to Super Bowl XXI at Pasadena when the Giants beat the Broncos.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/D2pSL8xugF
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) December 3, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 67: Found this magazine amidst the ruins. This was the cover of Newsweek just prior to Super Bowl XVI. One QB is in the Hall of Fame, the other one should be.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/80GvxjgttO
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) December 4, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 69. The season after UC went to the Final Four, this was the Bearcats media guide. A young-looking Nick Van Exel on the cover.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/ANc9acInLS
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) December 4, 2019
Cleaning Out My Desk Part 70: A favorite photo I came across. Forrest Gregg used to get on Pat McInally for his casual attire. So Pat showed up for practice in formal wear,a top hat and tails. That's Anthony Munoz and Lap getting a good laugh next to him.@WCPO pic.twitter.com/AH38uBUCCP
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) December 25, 2019
