Episode 920: Fundamentally, a Different Kind of Juice

On the Overthinking It Podcast, we tackle “Roundball Rock” and the tradition of non-diagetic sports theme music.

by Mark Lee
February 23rd, 2026

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Mark Lee, Jordan Stokes, and Peter Fenzel answer the anthem, energized by John Tesh’s live performance of “Roundball Rock” on the court at the NBA All-Star Game. They map the history of the track, from Tesh’s early days touring with Yanni, through his answering machine revelation of a song that would change the world, past the heyday of the NBA on NBC, through the valley toward the Dave Tesh SNL sketch, and back to the modern, nostalgic day.

They expand this consideration to sports jingles, sports anthems, and different musics associated with competition around the TV dial and the world. From what we know about Ancient Greece, to what we think we know about Ancient Rome (mostly due to movies), to the 19th century construction of bullfighting tradition, to the growth of rugby chants out of the traditions of the Maori and Zulu, to Hockey Night in Canada, the Wide World of Sports, and the FOX robot, the Overthinkers discuss who the music is by, who the music is for, and what it all has to do with, as Roland Barthes might put it, contest and spectacle.

ERROR WARNING: With a heavy heart, we must relay one stain of shame that perhaps no atonement might wash away: in this episode, Stokes briefly confuses Greek composer and keyboardist Yanni with the Romanian Gheorghe Zamfir, duly honored “Master of the Pan Flute.” In penance, until further notice Stokes will flagellate himself with a scented candle whilst laying down vocals for an adult contemporary electro-pop remix of Gregorian chant.