EPISODE 3: MANDO “MONSTER” MEDINA

Every great sports community has voices that become part of its history. For the Borderland, one of those voices belongs to Mando "The Monster" Medina.

Over the course of nearly three decades, Mando has built a career rooted in preparation, credibility, and an unmistakable passion for El Paso sports. From UTEP athletics and local high school competition to professional wrestling and combat sports, he has informed, entertained, and connected generations of fans while documenting some of the region's most memorable moments.

On this episode of The Rebound 915 Podcast, host Doug Rutter sits down with Mando for a conversation that goes far beyond the headlines. Together, they reflect on the evolution of sports broadcasting, the responsibility that comes with covering a community, and the relationships that have shaped a remarkable career in media.

This episode is more than a discussion about sports. It is a conversation about perseverance, professionalism, and the enduring value of telling stories that matter.

Mando shares the experiences that defined his journey, the lessons learned along the way, and his perspective on the future of sports media in the Borderland.

At The Rebound 915, we believe every meaningful conversation leaves a legacy. Mando Medina's story is one of commitment—to journalism, to the athletes and coaches he has covered, and to the community that has embraced him throughout his career.

We invite you to listen as one of El Paso's most respected broadcasters reflects on the moments, memories, and people that have made his career truly unforgettable.

Because every story deserves to be remembered, and every legacy deserves to be shared.

A cornerstone of Borderland boxing, Louie Burke rose from a Las Cruces boxing family to become a world‑ranked professional fighter, a 27‑year firefighter, and one of the most respected trainers in the Southwest. Beginning his career at age seven, Burke went on to win major amateur titles, compete in the 1980 Olympic Trials, and launch a professional run that opened 18‑0 with 11 knockouts, earning national rankings before retiring from competition.

Burke’s second career elevated him to legendary status. As a trainer, he shaped world champions including Austin “No Doubt” Trout and Jennifer Han, guided elite amateurs, and mentored generations of youth through PAL and community gyms. His technical mastery, discipline, and character have earned him induction into the New Mexico, El Paso, and California Boxing Halls of Fame.

A lifelong servant‑leader, Burke’s influence extends far beyond the ring — a mentor, firefighter, and community pillar whose legacy continues to define excellence in the Borderland.

Brad Taylor didn’t arrive in El Paso looking for a job. He arrived looking for a challenge big enough to matter. Minor League Baseball had already taken him across the country — ballparks, promotions, long seasons, the grind that only people inside the business truly understand. But El Paso was different. It wasn’t just a team waiting to be built. It was a city waiting to be believed in.

When MountainStar Sports Group brought him in before the Chihuahuas’ inaugural 2014 season, the stadium was still concrete and rebar. The brand didn’t exist yet. The community didn’t know what this new franchise would become. Brad stepped into that uncertainty with the one thing he’d carried through every stop in his career: the conviction that sports, done right, can transform a place.

He built the Chihuahuas the same way great teams are built — detail by detail, decision by decision, never losing sight of the people in the seats. He obsessed over the experience. The sound of the ballpark. The way a family feels walking through the gates. The pride a city feels when it sees its name on a national stage. Under his leadership, the Chihuahuas didn’t just succeed; they became one of the most recognizable brands in all of Minor League Baseball.

Attendance climbed. Merch sales exploded. Southwest University Park became a landmark. And the community impact — millions raised, thousands of lives touched — became the quiet backbone of the franchise.

But Brad’s story isn’t about numbers. It’s about stewardship. About taking a city’s trust and proving worthy of it. About showing that a minor league team can be a major force in the life of a region.

Years later, when he was elevated to President & General Manager, it wasn’t a promotion. It was a recognition of what he had already become: the steady hand behind one of the most successful sports stories in the Southwest.

Brad Taylor didn’t just help build the El Paso Chihuahuas. He helped build a sense of identity — a reminder that a team can be more than a team, and a ballpark can be more than a place to watch a game. It can be a heartbeat.