Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Holland, Raymond Felton, and Rufino Vargas
Hi Derek, Raymond, Rufino, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Tha Throwbacks: A Sports Life Podcast & Show was created to teach positivity, perseverance, and guidance to individuals in their personal and professional lives, as well as in sports, through real-life stories and situations shared by our hosts and guests. This platform also raises awareness for various nonprofits and charities nationwide. Our goal is to reach people and inspire them to never give up by sharing stories of current events, sports, public figures, and athletes who have triumphed and overcome challenges. We aim to make you laugh, cry, motivate, teach, and inspire you to never give up!
The Hosts:
Raymond Felton
Raymond Felton Jr. emerged as a standout basketball talent from Latta, South Carolina, where he led his high school team to two state championships, setting state scoring records in the process. His exceptional skills earned him prestigious awards, including the South Carolina Mr. Basketball accolade and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2002. Felton’s talent shone brightly at the University of North Carolina, where he played a pivotal role in securing the 2005 national championship for the Tar Heels, showcasing his prowess as a point guard.
Entering the NBA as a highly anticipated prospect, Felton was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2005 NBA draft. Throughout his 14-season career, he graced several teams, including the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Dallas Mavericks, leaving an indelible mark with his stellar performances and unwavering dedication to the sport. Felton’s leadership on and off the court earned him recognition, such as the Bob Cousy Award and a place on the All-ACC First Team, showcasing his enduring impact in the basketball world.
Beyond his playing days, Felton’s commitment to basketball continues as he transitions into coaching. Currently residing in Dallas, Texas, Felton serves as the head coach of esteemed basketball programs, including the Felton Elite AAU basketball team, the Nike Pro Skills Basketball team, and the Pace Academy men’s basketball program in McKinney, Texas. With a passion for nurturing young talents and sharing his wealth of experience, Felton’s influence extends far beyond his own illustrious career, inspiring future generations of athletes to reach for their dreams on and off the court.
Raymond mentors, trains, and coaches kids from middle school to high school, collegiate, and professional levels. As the host of the show, he provides life and coaching advice, offering insights on his career and guidance on what young athletes should and shouldn’t do to succeed in life and as professionals.
Derek Holland
Derek Holland, known by his nickname “Dutch Oven,” is a professional baseball pitcher from Newark, Ohio. Holland began his career with the Texas Rangers, who selected him in the 25th round of the 2006 MLB draft out of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama. He quickly made a name for himself, debuting in the MLB on April 22, 2009, and earning recognition as the number two prospect in the Rangers organization in 2009. Throughout his career, Holland has played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers.
Holland’s tenure with the Texas Rangers was marked by significant achievements and notable performances. In 2011, he was instrumental in the Rangers’ run to the World Series, earning the win in Game 4 with a standout performance that saw him pitch 8⅓ innings of scoreless baseball. Despite facing setbacks due to injuries, such as a knee injury in 2014 and a subscapularis muscle strain in 2015, Holland consistently demonstrated resilience and skill on the mound. His journey in the MLB saw him transitioning between starting and relief roles, with highlights including a career-best 16–5 record in 2011 and leading the American League in shutouts that same year.
Post-career, Derek Holland has focused on giving back to the community and mentoring the next generation of athletes. He launched the 60 Feet 6 Foundation to raise awareness and fund research for leukemia, particularly its pediatric forms, supporting families battling the disease. Holland also dedicates his time to training, mentoring, and coaching kids at various levels, including middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. Currently, he assists a Dallas area junior college baseball team, providing guidance to young athletes both in life and the baseball world. Through his charitable efforts and coaching, Holland continues to make a positive impact beyond his professional baseball career.
Looking forward, Derek Holland aims to use his experiences and platform to inspire the next generation of athletes. He hopes to leverage his background and the visibility of his podcast, Tha Throwbacks: A Sports Life Podcast & Show, to encourage young athletes to pursue their dreams while also raising awareness for children battling life-threatening diseases. Through his podcast and charitable endeavors, Holland continues to embody his commitment to making a positive impact, both on and off the field.
Rufino Vargas
Rufino Vargas is a former musician and athlete, now a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and executive. Born in Dallas, Texas, was inspired by his parents, who were laborer’s & musicians from San Antonio, Texas. His early exposure to music was enriched by his vocal guitar and tracking sessions with friends and musical peers. Inspired by his good friend Ryan Cabrera in the 6th grade, Rufino’s initial foray into rock music began, leading to his first band experience during his early years of high school. This motivated him to launch his first project in late high school, then sparking an over 20-year journey in music with several bands, encompassing regional and national touring, management and record label services for nationally signed artists, A&R for record labels, and ownership of studios, entertainment, and media companies. Rufino has done it all.
His athletic pursuits were equally impressive. He was a ranked youth bowler and a semi-professional bowler from college through early adulthood. Additionally, he played baseball, basketball, soccer, track and field, and Texas high school football in his early years. Having lost his parents to cancer, including his father at the age of nine, Rufino worked multiple jobs while being a student-athlete to help his family survive. While teaching him high level multitasking most his age didn’t have the ability to do. This experience gave him insight into both athletics entertainment and the personal and professional sides of life, teaching perseverance through various challenges. He is a firm believer that hardship and failure are the ultimate teachers, through this, he now has over two decades of experience in the professional world.
His professional journey technically began in the debt collection and consolidation industry, where he founded, developed, managed, and eventually sold his first company, in his early 20’s. Following this, he ventured into energy and various other sub sections of the industry, gaining experience in drilling, lease acquisitions, operating, and geological and geophysical work. As the architect and concept founder of a nationally based holding company, Rufino oversaw assets across multiple sectors including energy, entertainment, finance, and more. He briefly studied Business Management and Broadcasting at Collin College in Frisco, Texas, and continued his business management studies online at Western International University located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Rufino’s philanthropic efforts are notable, having helped raise money for various children’s and military charities nationwide. Overcoming impossible odds to achieve success, he currently owns a holding and private equity company located in Dallas, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. Residing in both Los Angeles, California, and Dallas, Texas, Rufino is a proud father of four children, and is continuing to inspire through his diverse experiences and unwavering dedication.
These three hosts have come together to deliver a message to anyone and everyone facing real-life situations, spreading positivity, advice, and stories. They discuss current events, life, public figures, athletes, and games, while also raising awareness for the various charitable organizations they are associated with. Every episode starts with a motivational quote to engage our listeners’ thoughts and ensure they never give up on themselves and their dreams. Through their collective experiences and unwavering dedication, Raymond Felton, Derek Holland, and Rufino Vargas inspire listeners to persevere and achieve their goals, both in sports and in life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In life, all three have had to overcome adversity in various ways.
Raymond Felton hails from a lower to middle-class, blue-collar family that faced daily struggles to survive and provide, in which he watched his father work in unbearable conditions and circumstances. These challenges fueled Raymond’s determination to excel, leading him to become the number one rated player coming out of high school. His talent and hard work earned him a scholarship to a Division 1 college, where he played a pivotal role in winning a national championship with North Carolina, which then resulted in him being drafted in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft.
Derek Holland grew up in a hard-working middle-class family in the Midwest. Despite his upbringing, he faced struggles in school that later fueled his advocacy for youth to prioritize education and work hard. His academic challenges prevented him from initially playing Division 1 baseball. This setback motivated him to redouble his efforts in junior college, where he worked tirelessly to catch the eye of professional scouts. Ultimately, his perseverance and dedication led to his successful 14 year MLB career and contributions to baseball both on and off the field.
Rufino Vargas also grew up in a lower to middle-class environment, marked by the loss of his father at a young age and the ensuing struggles of his family. He didn’t move frequently but had to live in different parts of the country with family at certain times of the year and even lived with friends. With a childhood that saw him taking on various jobs to help support himself and his family, Rufino learned the value of resilience and extreme forms of multitasking early on. These experiences shaped his outlook on life, inspiring the motto he shares with his children: “A Vargas Never Gives Up.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Tha Throwbacks was born from a shared mission to spread positivity, perseverance, and guidance across personal, professional, and sports realms through real-life stories shared by our hosts and guests. Our platform also serves as a beacon for various nonprofits and charities, aiming to inspire resilience and determination in our audience, encouraging them to never give up. We celebrate stories of triumph over adversity in the world of sports and beyond, aiming to evoke emotions from laughter to tears while motivating, teaching, and inspiring individuals to persevere through challenges.
Our show stands out by fostering genuine, heartfelt conversations that delve into current events, life experiences, and the journeys of public figures and athletes. We strive to uplift and educate, simultaneously raising awareness for charitable causes close to our hearts. What sets us apart is our deep-rooted pride in our journey, regardless of its challenges, and our commitment to supporting and donating to impactful charities. Our unique backgrounds give us a distinct perspective, enabling us to provide young athletes and professionals with invaluable stories and insights for personal and professional growth.
At Tha Throwbacks, we take pride in our ability to offer more than just sports commentary—we provide a platform where stories of resilience and hope resonate deeply. By sharing our own experiences and those of our guests, we aim to motivate, inspire, and instill hope in those facing adversity, fostering a community where perseverance and positivity prevail.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
We firmly believe that life inherently involves risk-taking. Everything worth achieving requires stepping out of your comfort zone and taking chances to grow and reach new heights. Rather than viewing risks negatively, we see them as opportunities for personal development and self-discovery. Each risk we take is a chance to overcome obstacles and ultimately reward ourselves with greater achievements and a stronger sense of self-worth. It’s about embracing challenges as pathways to personal fulfillment and success, knowing that the journey itself is as valuable as the destination.
At Tha Throwbacks, we encourage our audience to adopt a positive mindset towards risk-taking. We believe in seizing opportunities, pushing boundaries, and proving to ourselves that we can surpass expectations. Our co-host Rufino often emphasizes the importance of being the best version of oneself, not just for personal satisfaction, but also for the positive impact it has on those around us. His mantra, ‘Be the best you, you can be for yourself, because everything you do affects everyone around you whether you care or not. Because if you are the best you can be for yourself, then you will be plenty good for everyone else around you,’ sincerely resonates deeply with our approach to risk-taking and personal growth. By embracing challenges and striving for excellence, we not only inspire ourselves but also uplift and motivate others through our journey.
In our podcast and show, we share stories that reflect our belief in the power of taking calculated risks. We discuss how athletes, public figures, and everyday individuals navigate challenges and seize opportunities to achieve greatness. By highlighting these experiences, we aim to inspire our audience to embrace risk-taking as a catalyst for personal and professional development. Through our conversations and insights, we hope to foster a community that embraces challenges, celebrates resilience, and finds strength in overcoming adversity—all while striving to be the best version of ourselves for the benefit of everyone around us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@thathrowbackworld
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thathrowbackworld/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552673020866
- Twitter: https://x.com/thathrowbacks
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThaThrowbacks
- Other: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/53-tha-throwbacks-a-sports-lif-127264243/
Image Credits
credit to: Felton Elite, 60 Feet 6 Foundation, TJ Martel Foundation,
