Max broke the story locally in 2007 that Tubby Smith was on a private plane headed from Kentucky to Minnesota, likely to become the Gophers new basketball coach. Smith, of course, did accept the job and Max considers that his biggest scoop, breaking news that he collaborated with sources.
Max has contact information for hundreds of sources who he knows must feel they can trust him. “Because I’ve played sports I’ve always had great respect for guys that are in sports because I know how hard it is to get to where they are,” he said. “I know how hard it is to make it with the St. Paul Saints, let alone the Minnesota Twins. …I know how hard it is to be good at it (playing sports.)”
Max has had to work hard at more than reporting. His on-camera presence now is more polished than years ago. How did he improve?
“Beat yourself up a lot,” he answered. “I grew up right here in this market. Maybe I should have gone somewhere else. It all worked out, but…most people don’t start here. But I mean I’ve done everything. I’ve taken voice lessons, acting lessons. I’ve done all kinds of things because they never thought that I was great natural talent. … So I had to really work. I always thought I knew what I was talking about but I had to really work at diction, at communicating, at relaxing and all those things. I did all those things to help on that end of it and there is no substitute for repetition. Looking at yourself. Don’t like that, don’t like that. Lots of stuff like that.”
Ask Max about interesting characters he’s known and he mentions Brett Favre and Michael Jordan. Then he brings up Sid Hartman’s name, the 90-year-old outspoken Star Tribune columnist, WCCO Radio personality and regular guest on “The Sports Show.”
“…There’s no bigger character than Sid Hartman,” Max said. “I think he’s the most fascinating guy I’ve ever been around because he’s so driven. He’s so good and he won’t quit. He just keeps goin’ and goin’ and goin’. He just amazes me.”
Max believes Hartman has greeted each day of his adult life with the attitude he must prove to the world he’s worthy. A sports executive in town offered that analysis to Max years ago and he’s bought in. “I don’t know where that comes from but I think that’s pretty apropos,” Max said.
Other regulars on the “The Sports Show” are Star Tribune columnist/KSTP radio host Patrick Reusse and former WCCO Radio host Dark Star. Hartman and Star have had their on-air confrontations but Max said the two might then turn around and go out for dinner.