“Too often ‘winning’ really means winning at any cost.”

In October of 1985, I did a two-part series for the CBS Evening News called “When the Cheering Stops.” It covered college sports scandals… including that of athletes never learning the non-sports professional skills that college should have taught them. The result was a knowledge deficit that held them back in life.

Both parts are included in this week’s video.

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“Can’t is not part of your vocabulary.”

In 2012, while working for HBO’s Real Sports, I did a story on one of the most remarkable and inspiring people I’ve ever met: a young woman named Jennifer Bricker.

Bricker has an amazing personal story, from her birth and upbringing, to her life now. I hesitate to give any of it away here, as it might spoil the unfolding of that story in today’s video piece. I’ll just mention that I actually did two stories on Bricker — the first one in 2012, and a follow-up in 2016. Clips from both segments are in the video.

When you’re finished watching it, let me know what you think in the comment section.

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“Sharks aren’t the problem. Jaws is.”

Editor’s note: Today’s 50-year-old news clip his poor audio-quality, so we suggest that you turn up your volume all the way.

By August of 1975, the newly released Steven Spielberg film-classic, Jaws, was smashing box-office records and already having a major impact on American culture. It was driving many people’s fear of sharks through the roof… and also driving beach-community tourist bureaus nuts! They believed that irrational fears stoked by the movie were keeping visitors away from their beaches, and they were looking for ways to deal with the situation.

I covered one such community — Carolina Beach, North Carolina — for CBS News.

What gets me, while revisiting this report, is how the individuals we filmed and interviewed both look and sound like they could have been actual characters in the film.

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“There’s an awful lot of crudeness out there, in the street and all over our pop-culture.”

In 1998, I anchored a CBS prime-time documentary called “In Your Face, America.” It was an hour-long report about the coarsening of our country, and how vulgar and uncivil our popular culture was becoming. This was well illustrated, at the time, by junky, combative, daytime talk-shows (that I covered in one of the segments).

A lot of that crudeness may seem quaint by today’s standards, but people like former United States Secretary of Education, Bill Bennett (who I interviewed for the documentary), used to be very concerned about the social corrosion. (I say “used to,” because he changed quite a bit at the beginning of this political era). I also talked to Sally Jessy Raphael, a popular daytime talk-show host (who many of you will remember).

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“You said you wanted straight answers to straight questions… She can’t give straight answers because she’s too vulnerable.”

In recognition of all the new members who recently subscribed to this website after my appearance with Bill O’Reilly (thanks again!), I figured I’d take this week’s Bernie’s Time Machine trip back to The O’Reilly Factor — this time on November 3, 2016 (just a few days before the presidential election).

Hillary Clinton was leading in national polls, but important state polls were a bit tighter. The Clinton and Trump campaigns were both avoiding the media, perhaps afraid they’d make a last-minute, unforced error — Hillary because of her latest trouble with the FBI, and Trump (if I remember correctly) because of the Access Hollywood Tape controversy.

I spoke to Bill about the situation.

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“Going on these comedy shows gives a politician an opportunity to portray himself or herself in a different light.”

You may have forgotten this, but back when Donald Trump first entered the 2016 presidential race (which began in 2015), the liberal media — including the entertainment media — loved him (even after he did things like call Mexicans “rapists,” mock a reporter’s physical disability, and knock John McCain for his wartime capture).

Well, it wasn’t so much him they loved, but rather a couple things about him:

1. He and his antics were great for ratings.

2. The Left was enjoying the chaos he was bringing to the GOP nomination process, and believed that, if he won the Republican primary, he would be an easy defeat for Hillary Clinton in the general election.

So, in November of 2015, Trump was asked to host Saturday Night Live. In the run-up to the episode, Bill O’Reilly had me on the O’Reilly Factor to talk about whether or not it was a smart political move for Trump.

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Reminder: For a limited time, free and monthly subscribers can upgrade to an annual premium membership for just $25! That’s 50% off our regular price for a year’s worth of honest, irreverent commentary that challenges partisan narratives.

“Cable didn’t start the fire. Cable didn’t start the polarization… But [it’s] adding to the polarization.”

I’ve written a lot in recent years about how I believe cable news has been one of the most polarizing forces in our country. But a decade ago, the debate on that topic was a bit more nuanced. Former ABC News journalist Ted Koppel was adamant that cable news was a big problem. He argued that many news consumers have trouble distinguishing between opinion and hard-news reporting, and that cable news commentary was prioritizing ideology over facts.

After a high-profile exchange between Koppel and Fox News’s Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly brought me on his show to discuss the topic. I think some good points were made, though Bill got a little sidetracked on defending President Trump’s approval rating at the time (which kept me from getting out some of what I wanted to say).

Still, I suppose it was a worthwhile discussion.

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Reminder: For a limited time, free and monthly subscribers can upgrade to an annual premium membership for just $25! That’s 50% off our regular price for a year’s worth of honest, irreverent commentary that challenges partisan narratives.

“When parody becomes reality, we have a problem.”

Over the years, there have been several racial controversies related to sports mascots — typically in regard to phrases or imagery from an earlier era in U.S. and world history. But this particularly silly one — involving a horse and its name — galloped into the public arena in August of 2017.

I was asked onto Fox News to talk about it…

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“He was old-school. He was a throwback to another era — in my view, a better era.”

In February of 2015, I received the tragic news that my former CBS News colleague, Bob Simon, had died in car accident.

A Fox News producer set up a morning phone-call segment with me to talk to Martha MacCallum about Simon’s life. I think it was a decent tribute to a great journalist.

At the beginning of the exchange, you’ll hear me refer to a different journalist who’d recently been exposed for making things up. That was NBC News’s Brian Williams, who infamously got caught fabricating details of various stories he’d covered, including war coverage in Iraq several years earlier.

Anyway, Bob Simon was the real deal — a consummate professional who I wish more journalists emulated.

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“You’re about to meet a man you’ll either love or hate.”

In 1994, for CBS News’s Eye to Eye with Connie Chung, I covered Ken Hamblin, a controversial conservative radio host from Denver who referred to himself as “The Black Avenger.” One of the things that made him “controversial” was that he was an African American who spoke quite harshly about the black community, welfare, affirmative action, and liberalism itself.

I’d say more, but I wouldn’t do his point of view justice. Just watch and listen for yourself.

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“Every now and then you meet someone who’s really inspiring.”

In late 1994, for CBS News’s Eye to Eye with Connie Chung, I did on a story on basketball star, Muggsy Bogues.

At 5’3”, Muggsy was the shortest man to ever play in the NBA. He defied enormous odds to achieve success in a sport dominated by giants, and his height was just part of that story.

But as you’ll see at the end of the clip, he did eventually meet his match.

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“They’re convincing a large number of people that maleness and masculinity are synonymous with violence. ”

In 1994, a book titled “Who Stole Feminism?” generated an enormous amount of attention. In it, author Christina Marie Hoff Sommers challenged a lot of conventional wisdom about how badly women had it in the modern United States.

On “Eye to Eye with Connie Chung,” I spoke to Sommers about the book, as well as some of the inaccurate statistics and themes being tossed around about men at the time. The conversation may feel like some of the ones we have today in this country.

On a side note, Sommers, these days, is an AEI resident scholar.

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“Once you’re done with college, college is typically done with you.”

NCAA rules have changed a bit in recent years, but back in 2015, when I was reporting for HBO’s Real Sports, injured college athletes were getting what many considered a raw deal, as far as health insurance goes. Massive injuries sustained while playing college sports largely weren’t covered after the injured student graduated or otherwise left the college. And there were a number of young individuals who paid the price — literally!

Here’s a part of my report.

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Quick reminder: If you want to participate in Bernie’s Q&A for next week’s No BS Zone podcast, submit your question on this page’s comment section. You must be a paying subscriber to participate. (If you’re currently a free subscriber, you can upgrade here).

“The family of the ‘50s worked better than the family of the ‘90s.”

How about another late-90s time-machine video this week from Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel?

Conventional wisdom on proper parenting has changed quite a bit over the last several decades, and that shift was already apparent by the 1990s. Strictness and tough love had become taboo, giving way to a more compassionate approach. One man trying to fight that trend, in the interest of what he believed was best for kids, was psychologist and author, John Kirk Rosemond.

I sat down with Rosemond, his family, and one of his critics to talk about the complex topic.

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“They were my little lamb chops.”

At first glance, this week’s video may look like it came from my tenure at HBO’s Real Sports. But no, I actually worked alongside Bryant Gumbel before that, on a CBS News magazine series called “Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel.” It aired in the late 1990s. We did stories on socially relevant issues.

One of those issues was the dark, desperate world of sports gambling in college. We’re not talking about friendly wagers between students, but rather very serious (and scary) operations — the kind that ruined lives.

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“The Nigerian heroin traffickers now find more drug couriers right here in Dallas, Texas than just about anywhere in the entire United States.”

With the DEA and ICE in the news a lot last year, I thought this week’s video would be a good throwback.

In 1992, CBS News’s 48 Hours did an episode on foreign heroin being smuggled into and sold within the United States. I reported from Dallas, Texas on how Nigerian drug runners were recruiting American couriers who didn’t fit the typical mold.

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Happy New Year, everyone!

“They only care when you slime somebody on your team.”

It’s no secret that incendiary political rhetoric pre-dates the Trump era. It may have been less frequent, and often came from people outside of elected-office, but it was still present. Also present was the partisan hypocrisy of overlooking such rhetoric when it came from your said of the aisle (which is a far worse problem now).

In 2014, when I was a Fox News contributor, I went on Megyn Kelly’s show to talk about some very provocative remarks rock singer Ted Nugent made while campaigning for then Republican gubernatorial candidate, Greg Abbott.

The segment is a good reminder that I had no more patience for this kind of thing back then than I do now.

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Hi All.

First, let me take this opportunity to once again wish you all a Merry Christmas. I hope you have a joyful time with family and friends.

Rather than a time-machine video this week, I thought I’d try something a little different for the holidays: a mystery game… which I’m opening up to everyone via the comment section (including free subscribers).

Below is an old basketball photo. The guy in yellow, as you can probably tell, is me. But who’s guarding me — or at least trying to?

Hint #1: He’s famous… and he’s loaded.

Hint #2 (added 12/25): When I interviewed him in the early 1990s, he was worth $7 billion. Today he’s worth at least 40 times that amount.

Do you think you might know the answer? If so, drop your guess in the comment section.

Also, a reminder: We’re currently running a 50%-off sale on a BernardGoldberg.com annual membership (our biggest sale ever). It gives you full access to all content on this website, including the comment section. That’s just $25 for a full year of exclusive content from me! The sale ends at the end of this month, and is also good for gift subscriptions. I hope you’ll join me.

Upgrade to paid!

Thanks, and take care!

“He was visiting some old friends… at the cemetery.”

In 1988, CBS News’s 48 Hours spent two days in South Central Los Angeles covering youth street gangs. The episode was called “48 hours on Gang Street,” and my segment focused on gang-members and one individual trying to reform them. It was an interesting report, with a fascinating reveal toward the end.

By the way, a year later, a remark I made during this segment ended up on the iconic platinum album, “Straight Outta Compton” by N.W.A. It’s featured on the track, “Quiet on tha Set”. (I wish I would have received royalties).

Also, I just want to remind free and monthly subscribers that we’re currently running a 50%-off sale on a BernardGoldberg.com annual membership (our biggest sale ever). It gives you full access to all content on this website, including the comment section. That’s just $25 for a full year of exclusive content from me! The sale ends at the end of this month, and is also good for gift subscriptions. I hope you’ll join me.

Upgrade to paid!

Now, onto this week’s video…

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“Five years went by before they were told their drinking water was contaminated.”

Editor’s note: This week’s video has poor audio-quality. We recommend you raise your volume to hear it.

In November of 1988, for CBS News’s 48 Hours, I covered a story about safety problems at nuclear processing plants in America… that local residents found out about the hard way. I talked to those affected, and also to the investigators looking into such cases.

Before I continue, I just want to remind free and monthly subscribers that we’re currently running a 50%-off sale on a BernardGoldberg.com annual membership (our biggest sale ever). It gives you full access to all content on this website, including the comment section. That’s just $25 for a full year of exclusive content from me! The sale ends at the end of this month, and is also good for gift subscriptions. I hope you’ll join me.

Upgrade to paid!

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