The Lead

Nov 10/2023

An announcement about our showSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A lot of sports stories caught our attention in 2023. But when we stepped back and looked at the year as a whole, there was one storyline that rose above them all -- the incredible growth of women’s sports. Today, we’re looking back at the moments that made 2023 such a historic year, and looking[...]
When we think about innovative teams that have shaped the way offense is played in the NFL today, one of the first that comes to mind is the Bill Walsh-era San Francisco 49ers. However, there’s another trailblazing team from the same era that has arguably had just as big an impact on the sport. Today,[...]
Over the last four years, Armando Bacot has been a double-double machine for one of college basketball’s most storied programs. But the reminders of what Bacot hasn’t accomplished at UNC continue to hang over him. Today, we dive into why Bacot decided to come back for one last high-stakes season at Chapel Hill. Plus, how[...]
Baseball has always had a special place in the hearts and minds of fans -- of all ages. But what if the power of baseball memories could help aging baseball fans heal and live healthier lives? Today we explore a little known practice known as 'Baseball Reminiscence Therapy.'Reporter: Tiffany OshinskyLearn more about Baseball Reminiscence Therapy[...]
He’s the coach who makes slightly offbeat comments during press conferences, orchestrates the NFL’s most dynamic and explosive offense, and sometimes — decides to leave his high-pressure job out of the blue to see his family. Bottom line: Mike McDaniel does things differently. Today, we look at how the Dolphins head coach became someone who was[...]
Lior Asulin was a star player on a soccer team that was once a powerful symbol of peace and unity in Israel -- a team where Jews and Arabs played side by side. Nearly twenty years later, he was killed by Hamas in the October 7th attacks. This is the tragic story of his life[...]
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs was the author of one of the most dramatic wins of the NFL season, leading his team to a victory over the Falcons — and learning plays on the fly — just five days after coming over from the Cardinals in a trade. Today, we look at why Dobbs — an actual[...]
In 1983, musical legend Marvin Gaye stepped to the microphone at The Forum in Los Angeles, to sing the national anthem before the NBA All-Star Game. What happened next set in motion a cultural transformation within the NBA that still reverberates today. (This episode first aired on March 1, 2023)Guests: David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson[...]
Travis Kelce might be the most talked-about man in all of American pop culture right now. But his rise from football star to A-List celebrity actually began months before he began courting Taylor Swift with a friendship bracelet. Tom Kludt spent time with Kelce earlier this year and wrote an in-depth profile of him for[...]
At age 14, Mikey Williams was considered by some to be the best basketball player his age in the country. He had millions of followers on Instagram and celebrities like Drake asked for his jersey and invited him backstage. He even had LeBron James serving as a mentor. But questions about his basketball abilities began[...]
You might not guess it from watching him play football, but for much of his life, the odds have not been in C.J. Stroud’s favor. He saw his father go to prison at age 13, and reportedly did so poorly on the S2 cognition test that many people expected him to fail in the NFL.[...]
If you’ve watched a Philadelphia Eagles game recently, chances are you’ve gotten a close look at arguably the NFL’s most controversial play. The Tush Push (or Brotherly Shove, or Two-Cheek Sneak, if you prefer) has become the Eagles not-so-secret weapon, a play that’s been both criticized — and imitated — across the NFL. Today, we look[...]
A living nightmare finally came to an end for Liverpool's Luis Diaz on Thursday when his father was released by kidnappers in Colombia. Luis Manuel Diaz had been held captive for nearly two weeks, despite a massive push by the Colombian government to have him set free. Today, we look at how the kidnapping took[...]
At age 22, in his fourth year in the league, Anthony Edwards is on the verge of making the leap to NBA superstardom — a journey that can be traced back to the gritty neighborhood in southwest Atlanta that made him who he is. Today, we look at Edwards’s unlikely rise, and full circle return to[...]
In Week 8, Joe Burrow boarded the Bengals' team plane in an alien mask — then went into alien mode in a dominant performance against one of the NFL's best teams. That was a welcome sight for the Bengals, eight weeks into a season where the franchise QB has mostly looked like anything but himself. Today,[...]
Iowa's Caitlin Clark rewrote almost every individual record in women's college basketball last season, and led the Hawkeyes to within a game of a national championship. What followed can only be described as "Caitlin Clark Mania" -- a series of honors that included everything from bobblehead dolls to a butter sculpture. lToday, we break down[...]
It is the World Series showdown that basically no one saw coming: Bruce Bochy’s Wild Card Texas Rangers, against a team that finished 16 games back in their own division — Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today, we break down the low points that both of these teams had to navigate just to get[...]
Last week, the Las Vegas Aces became the first back-to-back WNBA champions in more than two decades. And, as we have come to expect with the Aces, they let everyone know just how much fun they would be having at the championship parade. But along with all the winning and the highly visible fun, the[...]
The Milwaukee Bucks became the favorites to win the NBA title the moment they swung the blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard. But along with all the excitement from that trade, Milwaukee is also facing some big questions. How will this team respond to the loss of one of its most popular players, Jrue Holiday? Can[...]
U.S.A. Track and Field star Noah Lyles caused quite a stir back in August when he called out NBA players for referring to themselves as “World Champions" after winning their league title. Several NBA All-Stars -- and even Drake -- took issue with his words, and did some verbal sparring online. But Lyles's comments were[...]
Mike McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have unleashed an offense that has taken the NFL by storm, with some of the fastest players in the league (including Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert) powering them to point totals we haven’t seen since the 1960s. Today, we look at three key factors fueling[...]
The NBA has been wrestling with a thorny issue for several years now – star players sitting out regular season games, even when they’re healthy. Fans are mad about it. TV broadcasters are mad about it. And now, the NBA has put new rules in place to try and prevent it from happening. Will the[...]
Ronald Acuña Jr. has had a season unlike any other in Major League Baseball history, becoming the first player with 40+ home runs and 70+ stolen bases in the same year. But leading up to this dream season, the Atlanta Braves outfielder endured a stretch of his career that was anything but a fairy tale.[...]
What exactly happened when Bronny James collapsed on a USC basketball court in late July? How were his teammates impacted? Ryan Kartje of the LA Times brings us some new details, and discusses what all of this mean for Bronny's -- and LeBron's -- future.Guest: Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles TimesRead Ryan's full story hereSee Privacy[...]
For months now, a single date has been etched into the minds of Dallas Cowboys players – February 11th, 2024 – the date of Super Bowl 58. And this year, the team looked for inspiration from a rather unlikely source: ex-Navy SEALs. Today, we look at why quarterback Dak Prescott organized this mental mission for[...]
The NHL season doesn’t begin until next month, but we might have already seen the most bizarre story of the season. Mike Babcock, one of the most accomplished hockey coaches in history, resigned as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets last week, after making his players show him private photos from their phones. Today,[...]
The Los Angeles Angels have had arguably the two biggest stars in baseball, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, on their roster for the past six years. And yet they have failed to make the playoffs -- or even record a winning season -- during that time. Today, with Ohtani on the verge of free agency,[...]
The San Francisco 49ers are 2-0, and looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, heading into a matchup with the Giants on Thursday Night Football. And on a roster filled with stars, the guy who’s in charge of keeping the high-powered offense running is the former Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. Today, we look at why[...]
Five years ago, almost no one in basketball knew the name Austin Reaves. Now, the 25-year-old is an extremely rich and extremely popular member of the world’s most famous basketball team. Today, we look at Austin Reaves' unlikely and sudden rise to stardom and fame, why he has become so beloved, and whether or not[...]
Two weeks into the college football season, it's fair to say that the most intriguing — and polarizing — team in the sport is Coach Prime's Colorado Buffaloes. Today, we look at how Deion Sanders has transformed Colorado — seemingly overnight — into arguably the most entertaining team that college football has ever seen. It's the story of a[...]
The Georgia Bulldogs are aiming for some rare history this season — college football’s first three-peat since the 1930’s — and Kirby Smart's team has handed the keys to this emerging dynasty to a relative unknown at quarterback: Carson Beck. Today, we break down why Beck stayed with the Bulldogs for three years when he easily[...]
Perhaps the biggest story of the NFL offseason has been star running backs trying – and failing – to get the big contracts they feel they deserve. That, plus the ever-shortening careers of running backs, has led some people to declare that we have reached the end of the NFL's star running back era. Today,[...]
The last time the New York Jets made the NFL playoffs, Mark Sanchez was their quarterback, LaDainian Tomlinson was their leading rusher, and The Social Network was about to come out on DVD. Now, 13 years later, the Jets finally believe they’ve found the right guy to lead them back. Today, we look at the[...]
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball lately, thanks in large part to a lineup featuring two front-runners for MVP: seven-time All-Star Mookie Betts, and their veteran first baseman with an unmistakable swing, Freddie Freeman. Today, we trace Freeman’s origin story as a hitter all the way[...]
This summer, an eye-popping number of global soccer stars have signed huge contracts with teams in an unlikely place: Saudi Arabia. Today, we dive into the chaos of the Saudi soccer gold rush, the ways in which it has turned world football upside down, and why the league might be here to stay.Guest: Tariq Panja,[...]
Twenty years ago, ESPN premiered a television drama called 'Playmakers'. It dove into a lot of edgy issues in football, and it was an instant hit with viewers. But after just one season, ESPN pulled the show from the airwaves, reportedly because the NFL was upset about it. Today, we bring you the story of a[...]
This past December, the Mississippi State football program and the college football world were hit with a tragedy, when head coach Mike Leach — the mastermind who made the ‘Air Raid’ offense famous — died at the age of 61. Today, we look at how Mississippi State is moving forward after the sudden loss of the[...]
The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team was eliminated from the World Cup by Sweden in the Round of 16 last week. It was a stunning development that led to the resignation of head coach Vlatko Andonvoski, and a whole lot of criticism. Today, we explore what went wrong for the U.S., and why the rest[...]
Our lasting memory of the Super Bowl back in February is Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Chiefs celebrating their second title in the last four seasons. But on the opposite end of all that excitement, for Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, it was a loss that left them searching for answers. Today,[...]
Late last week, the Pac-12 conference — which dates back more than a century — was suddenly showing signs of completely falling apart, with Oregon and Washington among the latest schools to leave. Today, we look at the rich history of a conference that produced John Elway, Aaron Rodgers, and Alex Morgan (among others), and[...]
There's growing evidence that certain psychedelic drugs can have positive benefits for people suffering from PTSD, depression and other mental illnesses. Today, we explore why many former pro athletes are taking up the cause of psychedelic therapy, and how some of their lives have been transformed by their experiences with the drugs (This episode first[...]
If you've ever been bowling at your local lanes, and seen the strange sight of someone flinging the ball toward the pins with two hands, there are two possible explanations: Either they have no clue what they're doing, or they're emulating one of the game's most dominant players. Ever since he burst onto the scene[...]
In the age of TikTok and Instagram, a new type of social media currency has become an important part of the recruiting process. Today, we venture into the strange world of recruit photo shoots -- a world filled with horses, Rolls Royces and spinning cameras... and a whole lot of frustrated coaches and administrators. (This[...]
The Tour de France Femmes is happening right now, with Stage 6 out of 8 taking place today. But while many of the top female cyclists in the world are hard at work in the mountains, our podcasting team is on vacation, so we are replaying an episode about the Women's Tour that originally aired[...]
After helping the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl 57, and besting his big brother Jason in the process, Travis Kelce suddenly seemed to be everywhere: late night talk shows, MLB games, Saturday Night Live, even his own epic party in Kansas City -- Kelce Jam. Today, we explain Kelce's somewhat unlikely leap from star[...]
Lionel Messi has arrived. The Argentine soccer star shocked the world last month by announcing that he was joining Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, and he was introduced to fans on a rain-soaked Sunday evening in Ft. Lauderdale this past weekend. Today, we bring you the inside story of how the biggest deal in[...]
Earlier this year, things were looking pretty bleak for the Cincinnati Reds, with a lot of empty seats at Great American Ball Park coming off a 100-loss season. But this team has made a dramatic turnaround, and the catalyst has been a player who has wasted no time in electrifying the city — and the[...]
The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team won its second straight World Cup in 2019. But since then, they've had a string of losses and injuries -- and the roster is now stretched thin. Today, we break down the USWNT's quest for an unprecedented third straight World Cup, the young stars who will have a chance[...]
For football fans of a certain age, the name Adam “Pacman” Jones conjures up a certain set of memories. Jones was drafted sixth overall in 2005, and eventually became a Pro Bowler and All-Pro, but a wave of troubling off-the-field incidents trailed him during much of his career. However, what’s less well known about Jones[...]
Plus: LSU makes history at the MLB draft. And a true long shot contender takes home the prize at the U.S. Open See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A bunch of very wealthy Indian businessmen recently placed a very large bet on women’s cricket. The Women's Premier League launched in India in March, and by some measures it’s now the second most valuable women’s professional sports league in the world. Today, Mujib Mashal of the New York Times explains how the league came[...]
Whether you think it's a passing fad or the greatest thing to ever happen to sports, chances are you've heard about the fastest growing game in the United States: pickleball. And lately, a sport without much history appears to have found its biggest star, who's been crushing her competition even though she's barely old enough[...]
Long-suffering fans of the Oakland As have had a roller coaster of a season. To express their ongoing frustration with owner John Fisher, they initially began boycotting games. Then, two weeks ago, they staged a dramatic "reverse boycott," packing the stands for a game on a Tuesday night, which resulted in a surprise victory over[...]
Connor Bedard, the presumed #1 pick in tonight's NHL Draft, is the most hyped hockey prospect we've seen since, well, some other guy named Connor. And there are those who believe Bedard could define a new era of the NHL. The Athletic's Dan Robson recently spoke with Bedard and his family at length, and he[...]
Plus: Atlanta pumps the breaks on baseball’s hottest young upstarts. And the Liberty get a gutty comeback win ahead of a pivotal Eastern Conference clash. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Earlier this summer in the MLB Draft League (a league for players looking to improve their draft outlook), a catcher from Uganda, Dennis Kasumba, stepped to the plate for the Frederick Keys… and struck out. For Kasumba, the result of the at-bat was a footnote — after a journey that took him from a slaughterhouse in[...]
Back in April, two young fighters -- Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia -- stepped into the ring in Las Vegas to determine the "new face of boxing". But before the first bell even rang, a theory had built in the boxing world that one of these fighters didn't really belong. That one of them was[...]
The NBA Draft is less than one week away, and everyone expects French phenom Victor Wembanyama to go first overall. Everyone except Scoot Henderson. Two years ago, he became the youngest pro player in U.S. history when he joined the G League at age 17, and today, we look at the extreme steps that Henderson[...]
An unlikely love story has been playing out in the Nevada desert over the past six years, between the city of Las Vegas and its pro hockey team. With the Golden Knights now on the brink of winning the Stanley Cup, we explore the origins of that love affair, and explain how a shared tragedy[...]
Plus: Andrew McCutchen continues to steer the Pirates forward with a historic homecoming season. And a Yankees legend takes a hit from the broadcasting booth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
As we get closer to the midway point of the MLB season, the Arizona Diamondbacks are a surprise leader in the NL West, ahead of the Dodgers, Padres and Giants. One big reason why is their undersized center fielder: the 5-foot-10, do-it-all dynamo, Corbin Carroll. Today, we look at how Carroll became an All-Star caliber[...]
Erling Haaland has shattered goal scoring records this season at Manchester City. But has he made his team any better? We dive into one of the more polarizing debates in soccer. Plus, a preview of this weekend's Champions League Final between Man City and Inter Milan. Guest: Sam Lee, The AthleticSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy[...]
Plus: Heat Culture shines bright in the Mile High City. And a golfing phenom does something we haven’t seen in over 70 years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bob Myers ended months of speculation this week by announcing that he is stepping down as the Golden State Warriors' GM. Myers, often called the architect of the Warriors dynasty, steered the team to four championships and six NBA Finals appearances over an eight-year period, and making some key trades along the way. Today, The[...]
Around this time last year, the Florida Panthers seemed to be at a crossroads. After posting the best regular season record in the NHL, they were swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, a year later, the Panthers are in the Stanley Cup Final, and Matthew Tkachuk is a big reason[...]
Jim Brown passed away at his home in Los Angeles last week at the age of 87. The Cleveland Browns legend and three-time NFL MVP made a name for himself as a football player, actor, and social activist, and also spent years working with gang leaders to try and prevent violence. But his reputation was[...]
After more than four decades of coming up short, the Denver Nuggets are finally playing in the NBA Finals for the first time. But despite a winning record in six consecutive seasons, most of those years for Denver have ended in heartbreak. Today, we look at how the Nuggets' foundation for winning has been built[...]
Plus: It’s looking like sweep season in the NHL and NBA conference finals. And Breanna Stewart flashes her MVP credentials in her home debut. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last season, the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA championship in style, especially when it came to their post-championship celebrations. But now, with the 2023 WNBA season about to tip off, the Aces find themselves wrapped up in not one but two controversies. Today, can the Aces move beyond their off-court problems and find a way to[...]
If you say the name Darvin Ham to a basketball fan of a certain age, chances are they’ll think of the time he shattered a backboard playing for Texas Tech during the 1996 NCAA tournament. But what's less known about the Lakers’ first-year head coach is his life before all of this, in Saginaw, Michigan,[...]
Plus: Jonathan Marchessault delivers with an elimination-game silencer of his own. And Todd Bowles fulfills his mother’s dream decades in the making. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last weekend, a 15:1 long shot named Mage raced to a dramatic victory at the Kentucky Derby. But that feel-good story was largely overshadowed by a series of tragic -- and in some cases mysterious -- racehorse deaths. Today, we explore what could be behind those deaths, the progress that horse racing has and hasn’t[...]
After back-to-back 100-loss seasons, and with one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball, life as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan has been pretty frustrating. However, this year, they started out as one of baseball's biggest surprises, with Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen helping to fuel a 20-8 start. Then came a recent seven-game losing[...]
Plus: The Devils bounce back to make it a series with Carolina. And college basketball’s most famous recruit finally announces where he’ll play next season. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last week, we got the long awaited — and widely expected —answer of who would go first in the NFL Draft, when the Carolina Panthers selected Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. But the questions about Young, and specifically his height (5-10 1/8), are not going away soon. Today, we dive deep into the history of undersized quarterbacks[...]
Miami Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra has long been known as a fiery competitor who does not shy away from confrontations -- even with his own players. Today, with the Heat cruising through the playoffs, we explore the method to Erik Spoelstra’s madness and explain why the confrontations, along with a heavy dose of compassion,[...]
Plus: The Bruins’ historic season ends with a whimper and the defending champs go down to a first timer. And a father-son phone call that will warm even the staunchest Cowboy hater’s heart. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On Thursday night, the Boston Celtics — one of the favorites to win the NBA title — moved on to the Eastern Conference semifinals. But during their not-always-so-smooth first-round series against Atlanta, we got a reminder that there are still questions when it comes to their 34-year-old head coach, Joe Mazzulla, who took over after Ime[...]
Hockey fans are used to Connor McDavid being the undisputed best player in hockey. But this past season, he somehow took things to an even higher level, doing things that haven't been done since the 1980s. Today, how McDavid’s evolution off the ice has helped him reach new heights on it -- and how his[...]
Plus: Steph Curry manages to avoid his own Chris Webber moment. And after more than decade, a career minor leaguer finally gets to The Show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
So far this season, the Seattle Mariners have been getting big production from a former top prospect who roams their outfield. But if you're thinking of reigning AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez — think again. The guy who's been stealing the spotlight in Seattle so far is Jarred Kelenic. The 23-year-old came to[...]
Alyssa Thompson's incredible soccer talent has already made her look like a future global star, even though she's just 18 years old. And her path to greatness, which included becoming the first girl to play on an MLS Next boys academy team (along with her sister, Giselle), has changed minds -- and the way that[...]
Plus: Two of hockey’s greatest rivals produce another in epic championship final. And A Yankees ace continues his electric start.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When the NBA playoffs get underway on Saturday, basketball fans will be witnessing history, as the Golden State Warriors are playing the Sacramento Kings in the postseason for the first time ever. These two teams famously share the same highway — the I-80 — but they took very different roads to get here. The Kings emerged as[...]
There was a time when it looked like China was going to be the next big thing in world soccer. After the government published an elaborate 50-point plan back in 2015, billions of dollars was spent developing China's professional league, building youth soccer academies across the country, and recruiting foreign stars to China for huge[...]
Plus: The Timberwolves get punch drunk on the final day of the NBA season. And a baseball team manages to give up a crooked number while not allowing a hit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
LeBron James's final wish as an NBA player is to suit up with his son LeBron James Jr, a.k.a. Bronny. When he made that intention clear last year, it was just the latest development in the incredibly well-documented basketball life of the 18-year-old Bronny, who has amassed a huge following of supporters, doubters, and people[...]
With three weeks to go until the NFL Draft, there's a clear cut top four at the quarterback position, featuring Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and the former Kentucky Wildcat, Will Levis. Levis emerged as a college star — and likely first round NFL pick — during the last two years in Lexington. But before that,[...]
Plus: KD shows why he makes the Suns the most dangerous team in the West. And a new spooky pitch has MLB hitters running in fear.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Boston Bruins have been making history this season. After becoming the fastest team in NHL history to rack up 50 wins, they might soon break the record for total points in a season. But what makes their success so incredible is the fact that almost no one saw it coming -- in fact, many[...]
Major League Baseball Opening Day is Thursday, and the upcoming season begins with a lot of intriguing questions: Can the Astros repeat as World Series champs? What feats will we see from Shohei Ohtani (and Mike Trout) in Ohtani's final year before free agency? And, what does baseball’s wave of new rules mean for our[...]
Plus: Iowa’s maestro guides the Hawkeyes to its first Final Four in 30 years. And the Seahawks bring in an old stalwart to solidify their defense.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The World Baseball Classic, a tournament that many fans once viewed as a bunch of meaningless exhibition games, captivated the world over the past two weeks and culminated with an epic showdown between the two best players in the game. Today, how the WBC went from an afterthought to the best thing to happen to[...]
With five weeks to go until the NFL Draft, there’s one player who’s arguably the most polarizing and intriguing prospect in the entire field: the dual threat quarterback out of the University of Florida, Anthony Richardson. Richardson wowed during his lone season as a full-time starter with the Gators, and at the NFL Combine, but[...]
Plus: One of college basketball’s most storied programs misses the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in over a decade. And Trea Turner catches fire at the WBC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Angelo Cataldi became Philadelphia's most popular sports radio personality by giving voice to the joys and frustrations of Philadelphia sports fans. And, along the way, he even saved a life or two -- literally. But his show was also criticized for being homophobic and misogynistic, and an event he founded, "Wing Bowl," eventually became a[...]
The NCAA tournament is finally here, which means that for the next three weeks, our lives will be consumed by college basketball’s biggest stars, its most surprising teams, and — hopefully — a bunch of buzzer beaters along the way. Today, we break down the favorites, surprises and some of the biggest storylines to follow in the[...]
Plus: It’s time to fill out those office brackets after another Selection Sunday. And the Rams keep their ‘remodel’ going by sending a former-All Pro’s talents to South Beach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In September of 2020, things began mysteriously disappearing from an MLB team's equipment bags. The ensuing investigation spanned six weeks and involved five Major League baseball teams, two police departments, and several very frustrated clubhouse managers.Guest: Stephanie Apstein, Sports IllustratedRead the original story: https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/02/27/mlb-great-jersey-caper-daily-coverSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Mac McClung may always be remembered for one Saturday night in Utah a couple of weeks ago, when he made the jump from the G League to win the NBA Dunk Contest — a performance so great that some experts said it saved a dying event. But what’s less well-known about McClung is his long journey[...]
Plus: Washington State basketball breaks an 82 year drought. And United’s dream run comes to a disastrous end at Anfield. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For many baseball fans, the name Dae-Sung Koo is synonymous with 2005, when the then-Mets relief pitcher smashed a double off of future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, then proceeded to race home from second base on a bunt. That was the only season that the 35-year-old Koo appeared in Major League Baseball, and if[...]
In 1983, musical legend Marvin Gaye stepped to the microphone at The Forum in Los Angeles, to sing the national anthem before the NBA All-Star Game. What happened next set in motion a cultural transformation within the NBA that still reverberates today.Guests: David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson II, The AthleticRead their original story hereSee Privacy[...]
Plus: The Lakers get a big win in Dallas, while Damian Lillard paints a masterpiece in the PDX. And Caitlin Clark puts a serious exclamation point on a wild weekend in college hoops. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For close to a decade, John Jaso made a name for himself in Major League Baseball. He was behind the plate for the last perfect game thrown in MLB (by Felix Hernandez), and he hit for the first cycle in the history of PNC Park in Pittsburgh. But if you haven’t heard John Jaso’s name in[...]
A deejay. A dance team. A VIP section. And a whole lot of victories. Meet Howard University's swimming and diving teams -- the only all-Black college swim teams in the U.S., with a mission that extends far beyond the pool.Guest: Robert Sanchez, Sports Illustrated contributorRead the full storySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy[...]
Just over one year ago, the Baylor Bears were playing a game against Texas, when one of the key players on their national title-winning team, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, suddenly took a wrong step — and suffered a devastating injury. The 6-foot-8 forward was given a two-year timetable to return, if he made it back at[...]
Ever since the NCAA began allowing college athletes to profit off their names, images, and likenesses (NIL), some athletes have been cashing in. But In a world filled with bad actors, some student-athletes have had much less fortunate outcomes. Today, we bring you the cautionary tale of Jaden Rashada, a top high school quarterback from[...]
Super Bowl 57 really had it everything — controversial calls, elite quarterbacks, and a high flying halftime show all of which made Sunday night in Phoenix one for the books. Plus Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts show why the future of the NFL is in good hands. And with their second Super Bowl title in[...]
We have two days to go until Super Bowl 57, a game that has a ton of great matchups and storylines: Andy Reid versus his old team, Travis Kelce against his brother Jason, and a quarterback showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. Beyond the game itself, there are even more questions to ponder: What[...]
Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will make history this weekend, as they become the first two Black quarterbacks to square off in a Super Bowl. For many, it's a sign of progress for a position that has historically been hugely biased against Black players. But just how much progress has actually been made? Today, sports[...]
Plus: Aaron Rodgers hints at where he might be lining up under center next season. And the last two undefeated teams in college hoops stay perfect ahead of an epic clash this Sunday.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Lisa Guerrero reached the pinnacle of sports broadcasting when she became a sideline reporter on Monday Night Football. But what everyone assumed was a dream job instead became a nightmare -- one that cost her her dignity, her mental health, and a pregnancy. Today, Lisa discusses the traumas she experienced during her time as a[...]
The Golden State Warriors are the defending NBA champions, and one of the great dynasties in NBA history. But so far this season, the team is hovering around .500, and they're approaching a crossroads when it comes to the contracts of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the architect of this dynasty, GM Bob Myers. Today,[...]
After a week of ‘Burrowhead’ taunts from the Bengals, Kansas City’s star QB reminds Cincy that Arrowhead still belongs to him. Meanwhile, San Francisco runs OUT of QBs against the Eagles. And Novak Djokovic’s victorious return to the Australian Open puts him at the pinnacle of men’s tennis once again.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and[...]
For the Kansas City Chiefs, this season began with questions about who would fill the massive void left by wide receiver Tyreek Hill. And the answer has come in the form of not one, not two, not three, not four, but five new wideouts. Today, Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt explains how this group of mostly[...]
The San Francisco 49ers advanced to the NFC title game on Sunday after their 12th consecutive win, with superstar running back Christian McCaffrey scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the victory over the Cowboys. Since he arrived in an October trade, McCaffrey has helped take San Francisco’s offense to another level, and he now has the[...]
Plus: Kansas City keeps an impressive streak going in the AFC. And Arsenal pass their stiffest test yet in their quest for a first league title in over 15 years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Philadelphia football fans have a complicated relationship with Eagles GM Howie Roseman. After building the team that won Philadelphia its first ever Super Bowl back in 2018, he was a hero. Then, just a few years later, he was seen as a problem. And now, with the Eagles looking like Super Bowl contenders, he’s a hero[...]
After a losing record last season, losing records in eight of their last nine seasons, and a rough start to this season, the New York Knicks have awakened — with a winning formula that includes a lot of Jalen Brunson. But Brunson is far from the only reason the Knicks are winning, and today, we’re[...]
The NFL playoffs are here. Today, Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr breaks down all six first round matchups and gives us his insights on what to expect from a potentially wild Wild Card Weekend.Guest: Conor Orr, Senior Writer, Sports IllustratedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We are basically at the halfway point of the NBA regular season, and today we are joined by former NBA sharpshooter and co-host of The Old Man and the Three podcast, JJ Redick, for a midseason heat check on the players who have dominated the first half, including Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin[...]
Plus: An unforgettable day for Bills fans in Orchard Park. And Lovie Smith’s unforgettable last act as the Texans head coach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last week, the man considered by many to be the greatest soccer player to ever live, the Brazilian superstar, Pelé, passed away at the age of 82. Today, stories about how he impacted Brazilian identity, the development of soccer around the world (including in the U.S.), and the complicated legacy he leaves behind.Guests:Márvio dos Anjos,[...]
We are five days away from college football’s national championship game, a David and Goliath showdown between the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs, and the team no one expected to be here: the TCU Horned Frogs. Today, we’re joined by Seth Emerson — who covers Georgia for The Athletic — to look at Stetson Bennett’s encore, and[...]
The man who many people consider the greatest sports broadcaster of all time, Vin Scully, died this summer at the age of 94. For 67 years, Scully was the iconic and unmistakable voice of the Dodgers, and began calling games in Brooklyn in 1950. Five writers share their memories of Scully the broadcaster, the storyteller,[...]
Lusia Harris is one of the best basketball players to ever live: a 3-time collegiate national champion, an Olympics silver medalist, and the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team. But chances are, you've never heard of her. Ben Proudfoot, the director of an Academy Award-winning short documentary about Harris's life, tells[...]
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker got into a hilarious spat with the Toronto Raptors' mascot -- a big, red dinosaur in a basketball jersey -- back in January. Things spilled over into the post-game press conference and onto Twitter, and the basketball world was hooked. Inspired by this hilarity, we called up Dave Raymond, the[...]
For the past month, millions of people have been glued to the television, watching as many Word Cup games as possible. And for fans in the U.S., that has meant spending a lot of time with the broadcast team at Fox. With the dust still settling on the tournament, sports media journalist Richard Deitsch joins[...]
Plus: Two NFC contenders see their playoff prospects head in opposite directions. And the Lakers find themselves in a familiar position — with a key piece out of action.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
One week ago, Grant Wahl – perhaps the best known soccer journalist in the U.S. – died suddenly while covering the World Cup in Qatar. He was just 49 years old. Today, four people who knew Grant share stories about his life, and the impact he had on the beautiful game and the people who[...]
Behind every great sports broadcaster is a great statistician -- the person who digs up the numbers that tell us a story about the game we're watching, or help us make sense of the action unfolding before our eyes. Today, The Athletic’s Dan Brown tells us the story of one such statistician, Bo Chapman, who[...]
There is perhaps no greater theater in all of sports than a penalty kick shootout at the World Cup. Players take turns walking into the spotlight with millions, if not billions of people around the world watching them, and engage in a high-stakes battle of skill and nerves with the goalkeeper. Score, and you are[...]
Back in March, Aaliyah Gayles -- a talented point guard from Las Vegas -- played in the McDonald's Girls All-American Basketball Game. It was just the latest achievement in her already impressive high school career, which included her being named a top ten national recruit. But just a few weeks after that game, Gayles’s life[...]
Plus: Two top NFL contenders get worrying injury news at the most important position. And two young superstars guide their countries into the round of eight in Qatar.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Being a long snapper in the NFL is one of the stranger jobs in all of sports. You spend your time hunched over, trying to throw perfect spirals backwards and between your legs -- in high pressure situations – and no one really knows about you or cares about you unless something goes terribly, horribly[...]
It's been a while since there has been this much hype around an NBA prospect. Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3-inch,18-year-old French basketball sensation, has been turning heads around the world for years now, and has even captured the imaginations of the NBA's biggest superstars, who have all gushed about his skills and incredible potential. But what[...]
Plus: An unexpected hero keeps Germany World Cup dreams afloat. And after 30 near misses, a decorated skier finally ends up on top. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On Wednesday, Canada played its first game of the 2022 World Cup against the team ranked #2 in the world -- Belgium. And despite losing the game 1-0, Canada absolutely dominated and, in the process, sent a powerful message to the world: Canada is no joke. Our team here at The Lead is off enjoying[...]
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has pulled a few rabbits out of his hat this year. For one thing, he’s taken a team that finished 4-13 last season and, without significant roster changes, started out this season 7-3. And it turns out, Daboll literally has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. The[...]
Plus: The Vikings officially go on fraud watch after a drubbing at the hands of the Cowboys. And the top two teams in women’s college hoops put on a show in Palo Alto — and send an important message along the way.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Lionel Messi has won just about everything there is to win in soccer -- scoring titles, Champions League trophies, a Copa America championship, and a record seven Ballon d'Ors as the world's top player. But the one thing that has eluded him is the prize that matters most to him and his fellow Argentines --[...]
Heading into this season, a lot of people weren’t expecting much from the Seattle Seahawks, as they went from Russell Wilson to 32-year-old journeyman Geno Smith. Fast forward 10 weeks into the season, and Smith — the quarterback people wrote off — is playing at an MVP level. Today, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar helps us take a[...]
Plus: Joel Embiid puts up an all-time stat line in a much needed win for the Sixers. And the PAC-12 sees two College Football Playoff contenders go down hard.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
All throughout the offseason, and even into the start of this season, we thought we knew what the Utah Jazz were supposed to be. This team was supposed to be tanking, one of the many hoping to land generational prospect Victor Wembanyama. But so far this year, the Jazz are doing basically the exact opposite[...]
For the past 12 years, the tiny, extremely wealthy nation of Qatar has been preparing for the 2022 World Cup, building beautiful new stadiums, roads, and hotels. And, for years, one journalist in particular has been telling the stories of the people who have been doing the actual building, as well as the terrible, sometimes[...]
The Houston Astros get manager Dusty Baker the only thing missing from his resume. The Jets' defense shines in a surprising win over the Bills. And Major League Soccer wraps up its season with a championship game for the ages.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Friday marks seven months to the day since Kansas pulled off its stunning comeback over UNC in the men’s college basketball national title game. And, at the start of this upcoming week, college hoops — and some of its most celebrated stars — are back. Today, The Athletic’s Eamonn Brennan gives us a crash course on the[...]
This past weekend, the Portland Thorns won their third NWSL championship -- a league record. But what made the achievement even more remarkable is the fact that it came less than a month after a bombshell report, conducted by former Acting US Attorney General Sally Yates, revealed systemic abuse and misconduct within the NWSL and[...]
Plus: A chaotic finish in Atlanta puts a new team atop the NFC South. And why there’s real reason to worry about a hyped NBA team in Los Angeles… and we’re not talking about the Lakers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For many full moons, a famous hotel in Oklahoma City has been keeping NBA players up at night -- and perhaps even influencing the outcome of their games. And the sheer number of players that say they've had paranormal experiences there is enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Today,[...]
For more than a decade now, and basically since their last playoff game all the way back in 2011, being a New York Jets fan has been a special kind of football agony. But so far in 2022, it’s been a much different story, as the team sits at 5-2 — right behind Josh Allen and[...]
Plus: A tough weekend for the NFL’s old guard, while some young stars shine bright. And a former-MLS superstar is making waves in the Premier League.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tennessee turned a whole lot of heads last weekend, outlasting previously undefeated Alabama in a 52-49 shootout for the ages. And among the throngs of students and clouds of cigar smoke that enveloped the field after the win was head coach Josh Heupel, who took a moment to savor the win -- and perhaps experience[...]
For Zion Williamson, Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets marks his first regular season NBA game in 17 months and more than 500 days. Today, The Athletic’s Will Guillory tells us about Zion’s long road back from a broken foot, the workouts that have reportedly left him in peak physical condition, and the inspiration he[...]
Plus: The Yankees face a win or go home game in Cleveland. And Liverpool turn back the clock against Manchester City.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Will the Colorado Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions? Will Connor McDavid reclaim his MVP crown? Can the Toronto Maple Leafs actually win a playoff series? With the 2022-23 NHL season now officially underway, The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek joins us to discuss these and other burning questions, and to try and replicate his previous feat[...]
After winning the NBA title this past summer, things appeared to be going pretty smoothly for the Warriors heading into the new season. But then, last week, Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole at practice — and turmoil arrived for the defending champs. Today, with less than one week to go until their title defense tips off,[...]
After a six-month sprint through the regular season, the MLB Playoffs get underway on Friday. To get us ready for October, The Athletic’s Stephen Nesbitt joins the show to look at the stars and storylines that will define the postseason, including Aaron Judge and the Yankees hoping to harness their first-half dominance, Mookie Betts and[...]
Over the past two years, a massive welfare fraud scheme has been simmering in Mississippi. And a key player in that scandal is Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre. With the help of a former Mississippi governor, Favre was able to direct state welfare funds -- money that was intended to help poor people --[...]
Plus: A sweep with massive implications means there is a new presumptive champ in the NL East. And everyone’s new favorite college football team resides in Lawrence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A little over a month ago, on August 28th, it seemed like a normal morning at the headquarters of Eastern Kentucky football. The season opener was five days away. A team staffer was restocking the coach’s refrigerator. And inside his office, that coach — Walt Wells — was dropping to the floor, having a heart[...]
This past weekend, Roger Federer played his final match as a professional tennis player, teaming up with his longtime rival Rafael Nadal in a mostly ceremonial doubles match at the Laver Cup. And, after the match (which they narrowly lost to Americans Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock), Federer was honored with a ceremony that brought[...]
Plus: Shady injury reports, butt punts, and more in an AFC East showdown to remember. And MLB’s youngest team is contending way earlier than anyone expected. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Eagles ran their record to 2-0 with a convincing win over the Vikings on Monday Night Football, and a big reason why was an electric performance from Jalen Hurts. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Berman tells us about Hurts’s evolution from second-round pick that a lot of people doubted, to now becoming one of the[...]
On Sunday night, the Las Vegas Aces brought home the WNBA championship – the first in the franchise's 26-year history, and the first major pro sports title for the city of Las Vegas. And the only thing more entertaining than the series might have been the post-game press conference, which included A'ja Wilson telling fans[...]
Plus: The Aces bring home the first title ever for Las Vegas. And Aaron Judge closes in history - and a potential triple crown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After a summer where he was expected to commit his future to Real Madrid, 23-year-old French superstar Kylian Mbappe instead decided to stay put in Paris, with PSG. And he's off to a red hot start to the new season. The New York Times’ Tariq Panja recently got a rare interview with Mbappe, and he[...]
In the fall of 2001… Sugar Ray was playing on your local radio station, the Patriots were suddenly forced to play their backup quarterback — a guy named Tom Brady — and the movie Zoolander had just come out in theaters. That’s how long it’s been since the Seattle Mariners made the playoffs. Today, The Athletic’s[...]
Plus: A new generation of tennis stars announce themselves in Flushing. And the Cornhuskers pay to make Scott Frost go away.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It's been a rough decade for USC football fans. Their beloved Trojans -- winners of nine national championships -- have missed every single college football playoff since 2014, and have finished in the top ten nationally just once in the past ten years. But now, with 39-year-old Lincoln Riley at the helm, there's a growing sense[...]
The Rams begin their Super Bowl title defense on Thursday night against Josh Allen and the Bills, but to get to this point, they’ve had to navigate an offseason filled with drama. There were concerns that Aaron Donald and Sean McVay might retire (and All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth did retire). Then Von Miller stunned[...]
In early August, Serena Williams published an essay in Vogue, announcing her intention to step away from tennis. Given her recent injuries and struggles on the court — including an embarrassing exit in Cincinnati just a few weeks ago — many people feared that the 40 year-old might go out with a whimper at this[...]
The last time we saw the Indianapolis Colts in a regular season game, they were blowing what was calculated as a 97 percent chance of making the playoffs, as they dropped their final game of the season to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s a loss that left a lot of people — including the team’s owner,[...]
Plus: A matchup of championship contenders in the WNBA playoffs. And a young slugger ties down his future for a long, LONG time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Earlier this year, four female college athletes died by suicide in just eight weeks. Those deaths stunned many people, and reopened a conversation about mental health among student-athletes — particularly female student-athletes. One important new voice in that conversation belongs to Cailin Bracken, a junior lacrosse player at Vanderbilt. With college sports about to resume,[...]
When you look across the landscape of Major League Baseball, it’s clear that the biggest surprise among all the division leaders is the team that sits at the top of the AL Central: the Cleveland Guardians. Today, The Athletic’s Zack Meisel joins us to look at some of the key players behind the team’s success,[...]
Plus: Tom Brady’s strange week ends up in the land of conspiracy theories. And a historic heavyweight bout could be on the cards – if the price is right. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last weekend, Manchester United lost 4-0 to Brentford, a club that has only been in the Premier League for two seasons, and that last defeated mighty Man United in 1938. And for many supporters of the Red Devils, who have suffered through nearly a decade of frustration and disappointment, it felt like a new low[...]
As a rookie, Ja’Marr Chase had one of the most spectacular rookie seasons you’ll see, pilling up 1,455 receiving yards with 13 touchdowns, and making highlight-reel catches all the way through a showdown with Jalen Ramsey in the Super Bowl. What made that even more stunning — beyond just the numbers — is that Chase[...]
Plus: The Padres are not happy with their statue contract slugger. And Erik Ten Hag wants everyone to know that United aren’t losing because of him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last week, the man that many people consider the greatest sports broadcaster of all time, Vin Scully, died at the age of 94. For 67 years, Scully was the iconic and unmistakable voice of the Dodgers, who started out calling games in Brooklyn in 1950, and signed off for the final time in 2016. Today,[...]
Last week, NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell passed away at age 88. In his 13 years with the Boston Celtics, the 6-foot-10 center -- who changed the way basketball was played -- won 11 NBA championships, including two while serving as a player-coach. (That also made him the first Black head coach[...]
Plus: Two young superstars don’t waste any time making their marks in the Premier League. And a 20,000 to 1 shot takes home one of golf’s most storied titles. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Over the last few weeks, few teams across Major League Baseball have been hotter than the extremely talented, previously disappointing — and suddenly surging — Toronto Blue Jays. Today, we're joined by The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath to look at why this team came up short in the first half, and three key factors that have helped[...]
Back in March, the Chargers made a big bet on former Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson, an undrafted free agent in 2018 who had a staggering journey just to reach the NFL. When Jackson was 19 years old, he was facing the possibility of anywhere from 40 years to life in prison in connection with[...]
A sexual assault allegation involving members of Canada's 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship team has reached the highest levels of government and dominated the airwaves in Canada recently. Investigative reporter Katie Strang of The Athletic joins us to discuss the details of the case, and why it has sparked a national moment of reckoning.[...]
The Tour de France wrapped up in Paris this past Sunday, along the famous Champs-Elysées. And on that very same day, on that very same road, something historic happened -- a Women's Tour de France began. Today, reporter Maggie Mertens explains why it took nearly 120 years for the world's most famous cycling competition to[...]
Plus: U.S. track and field’s newest supernova blows away the competition And cycling’s newest rivalry comes with a side of sportsmanship. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This spring, eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller announced that he was leaving the reigning Super Bowl champions — the L.A. Rams — to join the Buffalo Bills. It was a decision that surprised a lot of people, and also one that almost didn’t happen. Today, The Athletic’s Dan Pompei tells us why Miller ultimately chose upstate[...]
Fans of the U.S. women's national soccer team have been hearing the same names for quite a few years. But now, a new generation of players is starting to take over. Today, reporter Gwendolyn Oxenham gives us an inside look at one of those up-and-coming stars -- 22-year-old defender Naomi Girma -- and explains how[...]
Plus: One of baseball’s brightest young stars may be on the move. And the Chosen One takes his talents to a high school gym in South L.A.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last weekend, Novak Djokovic won his fourth consecutive WImbledon title. But the real story of the tournament wasn't the Serbian superstar. It was opponent in the final -- the highly polarizing Nick Kyrgios. The talented Australian dominated headlines for two weeks, thanks to his usual brand of entertaining, breathtaking tennis, coupled with a series of[...]
We have less than one week to go until the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, and during the first half of the season, we’ve seen a near-record-setting pace from the Yankees, more absurd pitching/hitting superlatives from Shohei Ohtani, and a Braves-Mets NL East showdown that is heating up in a hurry. Today, we’re joined by The[...]
Plus: Nick Kyrgios can’t upend Djokovic’s winning ways at Wimbledon. And MLB’s All Star Game turns into a family affair.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On Tuesday night, after seven weeks on the sidelines due to an oblique injury, 37-year-old Max Scherzer made his return for the Mets, and looked like… Max Scherzer — right down to a play where he nearly barreled over teammate Pete Alonso on a routine pop fly to first. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Rustin[...]
This spring, the tragic deaths of several college athletes again opened a conversation about mental health and college sports. In light of that, we’re replaying an episode that originally aired back in September, 2019. It's the incredible stories of two elite college football players whose lives followed very different paths – one tragic, and one[...]
Last week, many of the top college basketball players in the country heard their names called in the NBA draft. But others, including some of the most recognizable names in the game, decided to stay in school for another year instead -- in part because of NIL money. Today, The Athletic’s CJ Moore and Eamonn[...]
On Sunday night, the Colorado Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in 21 years, and just the third time in team history. And the unanimous winner of the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP was their superstar defenseman, Cale Makar. In fact, Makar was so dominant during the playoffs that The Great[...]
Plus: The Phillies playoff hopes take a major blow in San Diego. And Hornets fans are feeling deja vu all over again.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On Thursday night, when he was widely expected to be the top overall pick in the NBA Draft, Jabari Smith Jr. instead became one of the new faces of the Houston Rockets — after a freshman year at Auburn that sent his draft stock soaring. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Brian Hamilton to look[...]
Tomorrow marks the 50-year anniversary of Title IX, the landmark civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. The law has completely transformed the landscape of girls and women's sports in the U.S. in ways that were once unimaginable. But it turns out, most colleges and universities today are actually[...]
The Atlanta Braves are riding a wild hot streak so far in June (14-0 this month), and a big reason why has been the arrival of top prospect Michael Harris II, who’s hitting .328 in his young big league career. Today, Justin Toscano — who covers the team for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — tells the story of[...]
Two years ago, Deion Sanders left the comfort of his expansive home outside of Dallas -- a place he calls "Lake Prime" -- to become the next head football coach at Jackson State, the historically black university in Jackson, Mississippi. At times, his welcome speech felt more like a Sunday sermon than a press conference,[...]
Plus: The Lightning look to strike down the juggernaut coming out of Colorado. And Sabrina Ionescu is unimpressed with making history.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant has made a habit of achieving near immediate success -- and then promptly getting fired. This season, Gallant has once again worked some hockey coaching magic, steering the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first year at the helm (they currently trail the Tampa Bay Lightning[...]
Back in the early 2000’s, Josiah Johnson was a benchwarmer for one of the most storied college basketball programs in the nation: the UCLA Bruins. It was the closest he came to being a basketball star, and a long way from the heights reached by his dad, five-time NBA All-Star Marques Johnson. However, Josiah Johnson[...]
Plus: The Warriors go full steamroll mode in Game 2. And Max Scherzer wants you to know that nothing happened with his dog.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From the minute the Green Bay Packers called his name with the 34th pick of this year’s NFL Draft, wide receiver Christian Watson has had to answer questions about becoming the new face of the team’s wide receivers room — as he steps into the void created by the trade of Davante Adams. Today, The Athletic’s[...]
We're just over two rounds into the NHL Playoffs, and the league's brightest star -- Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid -- has already put in a performance for the ages. Today, reporter Jonathan Willis joins us to discuss how the 24-year-old McDavid has somehow taken his game to yet another level, the records he’s breaking[...]
Plus: Another European triumph for the kings of the Champions League. And two major leaguers take a fantasy football dispute way too far.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Back in December, just a couple of days before his wedding, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb and his family endured a devastating tragedy. Today, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly joins us to talk about how it upended the life of the Webb family, and what they are doing now to try to fight a growing epidemic.[...]
A title race for the ages. A dramatic comeback victory for the champions. And a desperate battle to avoid relegation. The Premier League's final weekend had all the drama -- and then some. Roger Bennett of the Men In Blazers Media Network joins us today to break down all the action from Championship Sunday, and[...]
Plus: Justin Thomas defies the odds at Southern Hills. And a dramatic Premier League title race comes down to the wire.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We’re nearly one fourth of the way through the 2022 MLB season, and after a devastating finish last year, one of the best teams in baseball so far this year has been the National League East-leading New York Mets. Today, The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd tells us about some of the key factors that have powered[...]
Plus: Tiger is back on the prowl at the PGA Championship. And a boozy Luka Doncic beer conspiracy takes flight.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
One year ago, Phil Mickelson was riding the highest of highs, having won the PGA Championship, and becoming the oldest major champion in golf history. But now, after making controversial comments about Saudi Arabia and a new Saudi-backed golf league, “Lefty” has found himself in hot water and a self-imposed exile from the PGA. Mickelson's[...]
Plus: Another head coach is leaving Las Vegas. And the Heat and Celtics gear up for a rock fight in the Eastern Conference Finals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Plus: The NHL shows the NBA what a dramatic game 7 really looks like. And Major League Baseball’s worst team finds an inventive new way to lose. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When he was drafted late in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, some experts called Jordan Poole — the Golden State Warriors’ selection — the worst pick of the draft. Three years later, Poole has emerged as a bona fide star, and provided the already talent-rich Warriors with another potent offensive threat. The[...]
Plus: The Urban Meyer hiring continues to haunt the Jaguars. And a former-MVP makes baseball history in Cincinnati.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After two years of anticipation, Angel City FC, the Los Angeles-based women’s professional soccer team founded and supported by celebrities like Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Eva Longoria, and Christina Aguilera (just to name a few), finally made its NWSL debut two weekends ago -- and it was quite the event. The[...]
Plus: The Sixers look to keep the good vibes going in Miami. And the NFL schedules two Monday night games... at the same time?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Plus: Will Chelsea's new American owners spend (enough) money to keep the fans happy? And tensions simmer between Golden State and Memphis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Despite being loaded with talent — including two of the two best players in baseball in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani — the Los Angeles Angels have struggled to put things together in recent seasons. After a red hot start, is that changing? The Athletic’s Sam Blum joins us to explain what’s different about the[...]
Plus: The NFL is headed to… Deutschland? And a collegiate golfer makes history with the help of Steph Curry.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
American basketball star Brittney Griner has now been in the custody of Russian authorities for more than two months, following her arrest in a Russian airport for alleged drug violations. But after some big developments this past week -- including the release of American prisoner Trevor Reed -- there's new reason to be optimistic about[...]
Plus: Tyrann Mathieu finally finds a new home. And is this the last dance for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the Steel City?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Plus: Can the Suns find a way to slow down Luka Dončić? And the round one NHL playoff matchup you don’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
During a dominant first-round sweep over the Brooklyn Nets, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics started to look like a legitimate threat to win the NBA title. Today, The Athletic’s Jason Quick tells us how the Celtics — and first-year head coach Ime Udoka — found their way after a rocky start, with the help[...]
Plus: Will James Harden shoot the ball tonight?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For weeks now, we've been hearing a lot about the supposedly scandalous 'Yankee Letter' -- sent by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to the New York Yankees back in 2017, and related to possible sign stealing violations. But now that the contents of that letter have come to light (as of Tuesday), it's clear that the[...]
On today's Starting Five (the new podcast we're developing at The Lead), we run down five of today's biggest sports stories, including: what comes next for the Brooklyn Nets, why Georgia's Travon Walker is suddenly the odds-on pick to go #1 in the NFL Draft, a high school basketball player who is going pro but[...]
Today, we're giving listeners a sneak peek of the new spin-off podcast we've been developing: 'The Lead: Starting Five.' We break down five of the biggest sports stories of the day, in 10 minutes. On today's episode, we preview the Nets' do-or-die game against the Celtics, explain why beers and insults were flying in Yankee[...]
When the NFL Draft gets underway next Thursday, one of the most intriguing prospects to hear his name called will be Malik Willis, the cannon-armed — and very fast — quarterback out of Liberty University. Today, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tells us how Willis went from unheralded high school passer in Atlanta, to third-string QB at Auburn,[...]
Back in the day, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, a defensive tackle on the 1985 Chicago Bears, was known for his bone-crunching hits and colorful off-the-field endeavors -- including rattlesnake hunting and professional wrestling. But now, at age 64, the former Super Bowl champ is in a very different kind of fight. The Athletic's Dan Pompei recently[...]
The NBA Playoffs get underway on Saturday, and there are intriguing storylines in every direction, from Giannis Antetokounmpo trying to lead the Bucks to a repeat, to star players — including Steph Curry and Luka Doncic — racing the clock to return from injuries. Today, The Athletic’s Zach Harper helps us break down the key subplots[...]
Baseball season is just a week old, but we’ve already been hearing a lot about a new technology that allows MLB pitchers and catchers to communicate with the push of a button, and thereby prevent sign-stealing -- PitchCom. And it turns out, the seemingly magical technology was, in fact, invented by two magicians. Today, The[...]
We have some exciting news to share! We are in the process of developing a new spin-off podcast, and as part of that process, we're shifting The Lead to two days per week instead of five, beginning this week. We'll now be publishing new episodes of The Lead on Wednesdays and Fridays. It'll still be[...]
Last summer, the world watched in shock and disbelief as Danish soccer star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during a Euro 2020 game, broadcast on live television. Doctors rushed onto the field and resuscitated him from what was later identified as cardiac arrest. Now, ten months later, Christian Eriksen is back on the field[...]
After all the chaos of the lockout, and the sprint through an abbreviated spring training, Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is here. To get ready for the season, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris, who breaks down five bold predictions for 2022, including his expectations for the always-overachieving Tampa Bay Rays, and the wildly[...]
After enduring a tough start to the season, the Dallas Mavericks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last 3 months. Luka Doncic is back to his MVP-level form and with the help of some key additions at the trade deadline the Slovenian star is hoping to reach the second[...]
There was a time when high school football players would decide where they wanted to go to college by visiting a few schools, talking to coaches, and then making a decision with their family. But those days are long gone. Today, The Athletic's Ari Wasserman takes us inside the over-the-top world of college football recruiting,[...]
This year's race for NBA Most Valuable Player is one of the tightest in recent memory. Two-time winner Giannis Antetokounmpo is making a strong push to become just the ninth three-time winner. The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, is putting up historic numbers night after night. And in Philadelphia, Sixers center Joel Embiid kept his team at[...]
The Women's Final Four tips off tonight, and there are some mouth-watering matchups: Top-ranked South Carolina, led by national player of the year Aliyah Boston, square off against relative underdogs Louisville, led by fiery guard Haley Van Lith. Then, UConn will play in its fourteenth consecutive Final Four (yes, you read that correctly), and will[...]
We are in unprecedented territory in the men’s NCAA Tournament, with a March Madness matchup we’ve never seen before: Duke vs. UNC, on Saturday night, in New Orleans. Today, The Athletic’s Brendan Marks — who covers both teams for The Athletic — takes us behind the scenes to look at key turning points for the Blue Devils[...]
After dispiritingly missing out in 2018, The U.S. Men are once again on the brink of World Cup qualification thanks in large part to the play of star forward Christian Pulisic. The Chelsea winger has endured an up and down campaign with his club in recent months, but on the back of a recent upturn[...]
We’re moving into the homestretch of the NHL regular season, which means the greatest postseason of them all – the NHL playoffs – are just a few weeks away. Today, The Athletic’s Eric Duhatschek gives us an early look at the NHL playoff picture, explains which teams made smart moves at the trade deadline, and[...]
The Toronto Blue Jays got an MVP-caliber campaign from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2021, but the team came up just short of the playoffs on the final day of the season. Today, The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath tells us how the Jays responded after the disappointment of missing out, and how they’ve rebuilt their roster after[...]
It has already been an unbelievable ride for the Iowa State Cyclones, a No. 11 seed that has made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Today, The Athletic’s Jesse Temple tells us how this team — led by first-year head coach T.J. Otzelberger — has pulled off an unthinkable turnaround, going from[...]
A year ago, Oregon basketball player Sedona Prince shamed the NCAA into a moment of reckoning. Her video about the "weight room" provided to women athletes in the NCAA tournament bubble stirred up a debate over discrepancies between the men's and women's tournaments, and turned Prince into an overnight celebrity. The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll caught[...]
The NFL offseason has had no shortage of storylines. Quarterbacks are playing musical chairs, big name free agents are on the move, and one of the best receivers in football was traded. Today The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones helps us make sense of it all by breaking down the controversial Deshaun Watson trade, Davante Adams’ move[...]
We’ve had a full day to recover from the opening two rounds of March Madness, four days that brought us cheerleader heroics, iconic mustaches, and some truly stunning performances — none more so than the Sweet 16 run of the St. Peter’s Peacocks. Today, The Athletic’s C.J. Moore — who has been on site covering the tournament[...]
At his introductory press conference a few weeks ago, American soccer coach Jesse Marsch brought up the fictional TV character that he knew he would be asked about: Ted Lasso. It was Marsch's way of addressing the elephant in the room -- the fact that he, an American, had been selected to lead one of[...]
Thanks to the Netflix, the hottest sport in America right now might just be Formula 1. The series has brought international auto racing to a whole new audience and its popularity just keeps growing. So with the F1 season set to kick off this weekend, The Athletic’s Matt Slater joins us to talk about what makes[...]
Major League Baseball Opening Day is just three weeks away, and we’ve seen a wave of significant deals as teams scramble to put together their rosters. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Stephen Nesbitt to break down some of those key moves — including the World Series champion Braves’ acquisition of Matt Olson, and the big[...]
When Zion Williamson came to town nearly three years ago, he was the hero that New Orleans Pelicans fans needed -- a Southern superstar who could pick up the pieces that Anthony Davis left behind. Fans welcomed him with open arms and a literal jazz ensemble. Now, after three injury-plagued seasons, more than 120 games[...]
Every year, the average person spends six hours filling out their brackets to try and dominate their March Madness pool. But what if I told you there was a way to get the perfect bracket in minutes instead of hours? Today, The Athletic’s resident college hoops guru, Seth Davis, gives us the skinny on who[...]
NFL free agency starts this week, but the fireworks have already started flying around the league, from Tom Brady to Russell Wilson to Aaron Rodgers to Carson Wentz. Today, The Athletic’s Stephen Holder breaks down the big QB deals that have already happened, and the off-field stories that have shaken the NFL lately, including the[...]
The Paralympics are in full swing in Beijing, and there have been plenty of great moments to savor. Today, we look at the incredible performance of athletes from Ukraine, who are winning loads of medals even while their friends and families back home remain under siege, the rise of China as a dominant force at[...]
Caitlin Clark is one of the most exciting players in all of college basketball. She launches shots from near half-court, spins audacious passes, and she has the numbers to back up the style too. But she’s not content with just dominating the basketball court, the sophomore point guard has dreams of becoming a mogul down[...]
The struggling L.A. Lakers lost again on Monday night, part of a second-half slide that has seen their record drop to eight games under .500. And in the midst of all that losing, there are big questions on the horizon when it comes to the future of LeBron James. Today, The Athletic’s Bill Oram tells[...]
Roman Abramovich endeared himself to Chelsea fans almost immediately when he purchased the club back in 2003. He quickly spent more money than any Premier League club owner in history, and the results on the field followed: league titles, Champions League victories, and many more trophies. But now, in the wake of Russia's war against[...]
NFL Free Agency is just around the corner, but the quarterback rumor mill is already in full flow. Today, The Athletic’s Mike Sando joins us to talk about the latest signal caller scuttlebutt from the combine and to tell us which team should feel the most angst about their quarterback situation headed into the 2022[...]
This week, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced that for the first time since 1994, the league is canceling games due to a work stoppage. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Groke — who covers the Colorado Rockies — to look at why that team’s owner, Dick Monfort, has emerged as a key figure in[...]
There’s another superstar emerging for the USWNT — Catarina Macario. The excitement around the 22-year-old is at a fevered pitch after she scored two incredible goals against Iceland to help the Americans seal their third straight SheBelieves Cup. Today, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to talk about how the Brazilian-born forward came in to[...]
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, international sports organizations have issued unprecedented penalties against Russia, including a ban on playing in international soccer games. Today, reporter Tariq Panja joins us to explain how and why these dramatic actions were taken, and why FIFA took so long to make its decision. Plus,[...]
No NBA team has experienced more ups and downs this season than the Brooklyn Nets. The one-time favorites have gone from first place in the East to eighth, and have seen plenty of drama -- on and off the court -- along the way. Now, after a signature win over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks[...]
The tallest man to ever play in the NHL, Zdeno Chara, set a record on Thursday by playing in his 1,652nd game -- the most ever by an NHL defenseman. And while the 6-foot-9-inch Slovakian has been a household name to hockey fans for nearly three decades now, his path to greatness was certainly not[...]
Chet Holmgren is one of the most unique basketball players you will ever see. The Gonzaga freshman stands 7’1" but weighs just 195 pounds, he has the height of a big man but can play on the perimeter like a guard, and in spite of his slight frame he’s a defensive menace in the paint.[...]
Last week in a courtroom in Fort Worth, Texas, a jury found Eric Kay, the former Los Angeles Angels communications director, guilty of distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that led to the death of Tyler Skaggs in 2019. Today, The Athletic's Sam Blum tells us some of the key points that were argued in[...]
Lusia Harris is one of the best basketball players to ever live: a 3-time collegiate national champion, an Olympics silver medalist, and the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team. But, chances are, you've never heard of her. A documentary about Harris's life drew upon mountains of previously unseen footage, and was[...]
We’re headed into the final stages of the NBA season and the hottest team in the NBA resides in Boston. Today, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss gives us insights into how the Celtics overcame their early season struggles on both sides of the floor and he tells us if this team actually has a chance to[...]
DeMar DeRozan has been having a career year in Chicago, and helped lead the Bulls to a 38-21 record heading into the All-Star break. And just a few days before playing in his fifth All-Star Game on Sunday night, he also broke a very old NBA record -- previously held by Wilt Chamberlain -- by[...]
The second week of the Beijing Winter Olympics has brought us a lot of incredible athlete performances, but it has also seen more controversy, most notably the ongoing saga with figure skater Kamila Valieva. Today, we break down some of the sights, sounds and storylines and that have defined these Winter Games, from Mikaela Shiffrin’s[...]
Dr. Evil takes over General Motors. Pete Davidson eats a chip and gets tackled to the ground. And a rabbit on a soapy island is talking, and nobody is sure why. The Athletic's Jake Ciely and Nando Di Fino take a break from their usual roles as fantasy sports writers, to walk us through what[...]
After a dismal 2021 season, Kentucky men's basketball is back near the top of the college basketball rankings. A huge reason for the Wildcats resurgence has been the play of their junior transfer, and National Player of the Year candidate — Oscar Tshiebwe. Today, The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker takes us through the big man's remarkable[...]
The NBA trade deadline is in the rearview mirror, but the impact of the James Harden-Ben Simmons/Nets-Sixers blockbuster trade is still sending waves throughout the league. Today, The Athletic’s Sam Amick takes us behind the scenes of that deal, tells us just how powerful Harden has become in getting what he wants, and why this soap[...]
After a long regular season and possibly the most exciting postseason in NFL history, the Los Angeles Rams hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy on Sunday night as Super Bowl LVI Champions. And they did it inside their home stadium, in front of thousands of maniacal fans, and with a SoCal-themed halftime show to boot. Today,[...]
Super Bowl Sunday is almost upon us and this year’s edition features two of the most explosive teams in the NFL – the star-studded L.A. Rams and the upstart Cincinnati Bengals. Today, The Athletic’s Arif Hasan breaks down the key matchups that could determine who goes home with the Lombardi Trophy and tells us what[...]
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics got underway last week with a lot of questions — questions about China, and about holding another Olympics during a global pandemic. But in the midst of all of that, we’ve seen Olympic athletes from around the world delivering some incredible performances. Today, we dive into some of the stories that[...]
Evander Kane is a complicated person. The NHL veteran has been a force within the league ever since he was drafted #4 overall back in 2009. He's known for doing community work, he co-founded the Hockey Diversity Alliance, and he has been one of the NHL's most vocal players when it comes to issues of[...]
The NBA trade deadline is closing in and it’s hard to keep track of all the storylines. In just the last week we learned that James Harden may already want out of Brooklyn, Bradley Beal’s days in Washington could be coming to a close, and Portland and Indiana might finally be ready to tear it all[...]
When you think of the Cincinnati Bengals and clutch playoff performances, the first name that probably comes to mind is Joe Burrow. But they’ve also gotten a huge lift from a player who’s quickly becoming a household name: their extremely confident rookie kicker, Evan McPherson. Today, at the start of Super Bowl week, The Athletic’s[...]
The NFL's diversity problems are back in the spotlight this week, after former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores filed a major lawsuit against the league, claiming discrimination in its hiring practices. The suit contains a number of explosive allegations, including claims that he was offered "sham" head coach interviews by both the New York[...]
The NBA’s most surprising contenders reside in Cleveland. The Cavs sit near the top of the Eastern Conference and they’ve done it by doing something totally different from the rest of the league. Today, The Athletic’s Kelsey Russo and Jason Lloyd give us insight into the Cavs recipe for success and tell us what the[...]
On Tuesday, one of the most iconic athletes of all time finally made it official, as Tom Brady announced that he’s retiring from the NFL after 22 years — and seven Super Bowl titles. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Greg Auman, Lindsay Jones, Steve Buckley, Daniel Kaplan, and Matthew Fairburn, who share their reflections[...]
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are about to begin, and there has never been an Olympic Games like this before. Today, we dive into the political controversies around the host nation, China, including their atrocious record of human rights abuses, as well as their approach to staging the games during the pandemic. Then, on a[...]
The NFL Playoffs have been one for the ages and Championship Weekend brought even more drama with clutch kicks, costly turnovers, and heroic comebacks. Today, The Athletic’s Stephen Holder breaks down all the action and gives us his favorite to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. Plus, a discussion of Tom Brady’s retirement saga as it[...]
On Sunday, when the San Francisco 49ers take on the L.A. Rams in the NFC Championship Game, it’s no secret that the Niners want to get the ball early and often to their most indispensable offensive player: Deebo Samuel. Today, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tells us the origin story of one of the most explosive[...]
When you think about Canada and sports, soccer probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But the country is emerging as a force, with the Canadian women winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and the men currently sitting atop the CONCACAF standings. With World Cup qualifiers resuming today, The Athletic's Joshua Kloke joins[...]
The 2021-22 women’s college basketball season has ben one of the most chaotic in recent history. There’s been major upsets, devastating injuries, incredible record setting performances–and we haven’t even gotten to March. Today, The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins us to make sense of all the madness and tells us about some of the key players[...]
We have about seven weeks to go until the start of March Madness, and there’s a surprise team at the top of the rankings: the Auburn Tigers, who are holding the No. 1 spot for the first time ever. Today, The Athletic’s Seth Davis tells us three key reasons why the Tigers have emerged as[...]
This was, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining weekends in the history of the NFL. Four games, every single one decided on the final play, frigid temperatures, walk-off field goals, upsets, squandered leads, and an epic, record-setting showdown between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The Athletic's Mike Sando joins us to break down[...]
Over the course of his career, Karl-Anthony Towns has faced questions over his toughness, his willingness to defend, and his maturity. Those questions have been a millstone over the former-Kentucky star as the T-Wolves struggle year after year. But that reputation might finally be changing. Today, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski tells us about how tragic[...]
On Monday night, in the Rams’ playoff win over the Cardinals, running back Cam Akers came up just short of 100 yards from scrimmage, which wouldn’t register as that remarkable of a feat — except that Akers wasn’t supposed to be playing in that game at all. Today, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue takes us behind the[...]
NHL star Corey Perry has built a career out of doing two things really well -- scoring goals, and getting under the skin of opponents. In fact, the former Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup Champion is widely seen as one of the most frustrating players to line up against. But it turns out the[...]
The hottest name on the open market in baseball might just belong to a power hitting outfielder from Japan. Hiroshima Toyo Carp slugger Seiya Suzuki has teams from across baseball salivating at his combination of power, plate discipline, and incredible defensive prowess. But with Major League Baseball mired in a lockout, Suzuki’s dreams are currently[...]
The NFL playoffs kicked off on Saturday, and the Super Wild Card Weekend was memorable right from the jump, with Joe Burrow and the Bengals breaking their long playoff drought, Josh Allen putting on a flawless performance to beat the Patriots, and an unforgettable finish between the 49ers and Cowboys in Dallas. Today, The Athletic’s[...]
NBA fans were treated to one of stranger and more hilarious moments of the season earlier this week, when Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker took exception to the actions of the opposing team's mascot, The Raptor. What made the situation especially ridiculous was the fact that there were no fans in the arena -- just[...]
The longest playoff win drought in American sports belongs to… The Cincinnati Bengals. It’s been 30 seasons (and counting) since fans in Southern Ohio could celebrate an NFL postseason victory, and it all started with a tackle on one of the league’s most legendary players. Today, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. and Jay Morrison take us[...]
We’re almost halfway through the final season of Mike Krzyzewski’s legendary 42-year run at Duke, and his hopes for one last title are resting in part with Duke’s latest freshman star: the dynamic 6-foot-10 big man, Paolo Banchero. Today, The Athletic’s Brendan Marks tells the story of Banchero’s unconventional path from aspiring drummer to potential[...]
Before Sunday night, it had been almost two and a half years -- I repeat, two and a half YEARS - since Klay Thompson last suited up for an NBA game. After tearing his ACL in 2019, he returned to health in 2020, only to rupture his achilles tendon. Now, after diligently rehabbing both injuries[...]
After an absolutely wild finish to the NFL's Week 18, The Athletic's Greg Auman joins us to discuss the team that is once again poised to make a deep run in the playoffs -- the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Bucs. Can they overcome a slew of injuries to once again make the Super[...]
We’re heading into the final week of the 2021 NFL regular season, and for a number of teams — including the 49ers, Raiders, Chargers and Titans, to name a few — there is a lot to play for on Sunday. Today, The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia breaks down what’s at stake in the NFC and AFC this weekend.[...]
It turns out 36 is the new 20 -- at least for Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin. The aging Russian is off to the best start of his career this season, and is inching closer to a record once thought untouchable -- Wayne Gretzky's career goal scoring record. So what exactly is behind The Great[...]
The Lakers started the year as one of the NBA title favorites. Now, nearly halfway through the season, they're still struggling to stay above .500 and out of the play-in for the second consecutive year. Today, The Athletic's Bill Oram tells us why the Lakers' bet on Russell Westbrook has not paid off and whether[...]
The College Football Playoff National Championship is just six days away, a showdown between the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, and the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs — who have made it this far with a QB who wasn’t even supposed to be their starter: Stetson Bennett. Today, The Athletic’s Seth Emerson tells the story of Bennett’s[...]
After blowing out Cincinnati on Friday, the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban are in yet another national championship game. So how exactly do Saban and 'Bama keep winning? A big part of the answer is recruiting -- Saban has brought in the top-ranked recruiting class in nine of the past 11 years.[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #1 we have 'The Afghan Women's Soccer Team's Incredible Escape From Kabul.' We hear from two women who helped orchestrate the evacuation of the Afghan Women's Soccer Team -- long a symbol of defiance to the Taliban -- just before the[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #2 we have 'From San Quentin To The NBA: 'Showtime' Taylor's Redemption.' The Athletic's Marcus Thompson joined us to discuss the incredible story of Aaron 'Showtime' Taylor, who went from calling basketball games for fun in San Quentin State Prison to[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #3 we have 'Reflections On Henry Aaron.' Five baseball writers from The Athletic joined us shortly after Aaron passed away to share their memories of him as a player and a human being, and to reflect on how he was shaped[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #4 we have 'The Friendship That Changed An NHL Superstar And A Rock Legend.' The Athletic's Joshua Kloke joined us to explain the unlikely friendship between hockey star Joe Thornon and Canadian rock legend Gord Downie -- and how each drew[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #5 we have 'NWSL Coach Fired Over Sexual Coercion Accusations.' The Athletic's Meg Linehan spent months investigating claims made against former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley and joined us to discuss what she found.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #6 we have 'The 101-Year-Old American Who Made Judo An Olympic Sport.' The Athletic's Daniel Brown joined us to discuss the incredible life of an American sports icon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #7 we have 'What A Sportswriter's Coming Out Story Tells Us About Carl Nassib.' The Athletic's Steve Buckley joined us to talk about his own coming out story, and how it might help us understand what lies ahead for Carl Nassib,[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #8 we have 'How Italy Came Back From The Brink.' The Athletic's James Horncastle joined us to explain how a charismatic coach helped guide the Italian Men's Soccer Team from an apocalyptic failure to the pinnacle of European success.See Privacy Policy[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #9 we have 'The Brian Snitker Story Begins And Ends With Loyalty.' The Athletic's David O'Brien joined us to discuss Braves manager Brian Snitker and how he guided Atlanta to an elusive World Series title.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California[...]
To close out 2021, we're replaying our 10 best episodes of the year. At #10 we have 'Why The NBA Hates, And Loves, The Ben Simmons Saga.' The Athletic's Sam Amick joined us back in October to discuss the drama around Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons, and why his situation is so fraught.Read Sam Amick's[...]
2021 is coming to a close. So, today, we are sharing five sports stories that brought a little happiness to another difficult year. From an epic championship celebration in Milwaukee to the year's most delightful hockey announcer, these stories will hopefully bring a smile to your face as we head into 2022.See Privacy Policy at[...]
In Denver on Sunday, the Broncos lined up for their opening series with just 10 men on the field, a tribute to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who died last week at age 33. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones and Nick Kosmider to look at Thomas’s improbable rise to the NFL, his Hall[...]
New York City FC won its first MLS Cup on Saturday, defeating the Portland Timbers inside a packed (and sopping wet) stadium in Portland. And while the game was quite a spectacle, with fans lining up for seats almost a WEEK in advance, the game itself was somewhat reflective of Major League Soccer -- lots[...]
When Ja Morant went down in late November with a scary looking knee injury, it seemed like the Grizzlies season could be headed into a tailspin. Then, in the absence of their star, Memphis transformed into one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Today The Athletic's Joe Vardon tells us how a combination of[...]
Early on this season, the Los Angeles Rams looked like a juggernaut, with Matthew Stafford leading them to a 7-1 start, and gaining some momentum as a contender for MVP. Then, the Rams lost three in a row, suddenly raising a lot of questions about just how good this team is. Ahead of their Monday[...]
Before their dramatic loss to Rutgers on Thursday night, the Purdue Boilermakers became the top team in men's college basketball for the first time in school history. Yet, after a stunning early exit last year from the tournament las year and losses like they suffered on Thursday night, questions remain over whether this team is[...]
The Cincinnati Bearcats made football history this week by becoming the first non-Power Five team to make the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. But what makes their accomplishment even more remarkable is the fact that the program was in shambles just five years ago, and was basically irrelevant for much of its[...]
This past Sunday in Las Vegas, the Washington Football Team found itself in another closely-contested game, and found a way to beat the Raiders for their fourth straight win. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Ben Standig to look at how this team has turned things around after a hopeless 2-6 start, the impact of[...]
Cale Makar and Bowen Byram have a lot in common. Both are young, extremely talented defensemen for the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, both are former #4 overall picks, and both hope to have long and successful hockey careers. But so far, the two have followed very different paths, with Makar ascending to superstardom and Byram struggling[...]
It's been a wild week for Notre Dame football: The winningest coach in program history abruptly left for another job, then the school named his successor just a few days later, and on Sunday the Irish narrowly missed out on a College Football Playoff berth. Today, The Athletic's Pete Sampson joins us to talk about[...]
So far this season, Brooklyn Nets fans have gotten used to the sight of LaMarcus Aldridge knocking down mid-range jumpers, which he’s done at a higher percentage than any other player in the NBA. However, it wasn’t all that long ago that it appeared the big man’s career was over after a scary April night[...]
Manchester United turned some heads last week when it announced that Ralf Rangnick, an influential German coach and sporting director, will serve as its interim manager until the end of the season. Today, The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein tells us about the man known as 'The Godfather of German coaching,' how he changed the definition of[...]
For many people, the best wide receiver in the NFL is Green Bay Packers star Davante Adams. But the former Fresno State standout's rise to superstardom from the gritty streets of his hometown in East Palo Alto was anything but easy. Today, The Athletic's Matt Schneidman joins us to talk about the special relationship that[...]
The clock is ticking for Major League Baseball, with a potential lockout on the horizon this week, as the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at 11:59pm ET on Wednesday. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Evan Drellich to look at why the players and owners are once again at a bitter impasse, and[...]
For much of their existence, the Florida Panthers have been, frankly, one of the worst teams in the NHL. But over the last few years, the Panthers have become legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. The Athletic's Michael Russo covered the Panthers for more than a decade, and he joins us today to explain what's behind their[...]
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government did something that it later apologized for and called a grave error: it rounded up and forcibly relocated tens of thousands of Japanese Americans, moving them to internment camps where they lived in extremely harsh conditions for years. Inside one of those camps, near Topaz, Utah,[...]
On this Thanksgiving holiday, we're replaying an episode that first aired this summer, just before the start of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. It's the inspiring story of 24 year-old American swimming phenom Morgan Stickney, who has faced a mind-boggling series of medical challenges during her career, but has somehow come out on the other[...]
We're just a few weeks into the women's college basketball season and there's already plenty to talk about. The top two teams in the country have already faced off, star players are taking their games to a new level, and rising contenders are already upsetting some of the traditional powers. Today, The Athletic's Chantel Jennings[...]
Two Sundays ago, Cam Newton made his dramatic return for the Carolina Panthers, and helped lead them to a win over the Arizona Cardinals. Then, this past Sunday, in his much-anticipated first game back in Carolina, Newton and the Panthers came up short against the Washington Football Team. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe[...]
During a chaotic 2020 college football season, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud spent most of his time on the bench as an understudy to Justin Fields. Now the redshirt freshman has not only stepped into the starting position, but has guided the Buckeyes to one of their best offensive seasons in school history -- and[...]
Johnny Juzang exploded onto the college basketball scene during the 2021 NCAA Tournament after he led the eleventh seeded UCLA Bruins on a surprising run all the way to the Final Four. Now he's looking to get to the next level and take his team all the way to the championship. Today, The Athletic's Seth[...]
In just his second NFL season, Jonathan Taylor is already one of the NFL's best running backs. But before he turned his attention to the gridiron, the Colts star was far more fascinated with Outer Space than he was with scoring touchdowns. Today, The Athletic's Zak Keefer tells us how the NFL's leading rusher went[...]
Four years ago, Bruce Arena's reputation as a miracle-working soccer coach took a bit of a hit when the U.S. Men's National Team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. A year and a half later, he took the reins of the New England Revolution -- a team with a long history of success[...]
An NFL team's success often comes down to the guy lining up under center. If your signal caller is a star then the playoffs are probably calling. If he's not ... well, you might be in trouble. The Athletic's Mike Sando polled insiders from around the league to rank every team's starting quarterback and today[...]
After a couple of years mostly out of the spotlight, watching other teams reach the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors have come roaring back to start the 2021-22 season. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami to look at three key reasons why Steph Curry and the Warriors are back among the best[...]
Mark Borowiecki is best known as a hard-hitting defenseman with the NHL's Nashville Predators -- a guy who has doled out plenty of bone-crunching checks and who has dropped the gloves more than a few times. He's also earned the nickname "Boro-Cop" for his tendency to stand up for justice on and off the ice,[...]
Carli Lloyd officially retired on Sunday as one of America's most decorated and celebrated soccer players. She's won everything from the World Cup to Olympic Gold Medals to FIFA World Player of the Year. Perhaps more than the achievements on the pitch, Lloyd was known for her maniacal drive and singular focus to become one[...]
The last time the Boston Celtics took the floor, on Saturday night, they watched Luka Doncic hit a game-winning dagger to drop their record to 4-6 — the latest setback in a season that has already seen a lot of turbulence. Today, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss breaks down all the turmoil that Boston has faced (including[...]
Three weeks ago, the New England Patriots were 2-4, and many experts were saying their season was over. But now the Pats have won three straight games and are just half a game behind the Bills for first in the AFC East. So what's behind their turnaround? Matthew Fairburn, who covers the Pats for The[...]
At almost every stage of his life people have doubted Hubert Davis. In high school, he couldn't live up to the legend of his uncle, who was a star at North Carolina. Dean Smith questioned whether he could make it with the Tar Heels. Don Nelson didn't think he was good enough for the NBA.[...]
Earlier this week, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros to win their first World Series title since 1995. And one person who was clearly taking in the moment was their 66-year-old manager, Brian Snitker, who has been with the organization since the 1970’s. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David O’Brien to look at[...]
The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers got caught up in a media firestorm on Wednesday. After it was announced that Rodgers would miss Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to Covid protocols, media outlets deduced that Rodgers must not, in fact, be vaccinated -- despite his earlier assertion that he is[...]
After four straight losing seasons, the Chicago Bulls have gotten off to a 6-1 start — heading into Tuesday night, the best record in the NBA. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry to look at how the Bulls are finding a new formula for success this season, thanks to the addition of veteran[...]
An investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks, triggered by a lawsuit and allegations of sexual assault against a former video coach, have now turned the narrative around the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup victory on its head. The Athletic's Mark Lazerus, who has reported on former coach Brad Aldrich and his disturbing patterns of behavior, joins us[...]
Questions are swirling around Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as they head into a Monday night showdown with the New York Giants. The team many thought would contend for their second Super Bowl win in three years is struggling to get back to winning ways, and it's left a lot of people pointing[...]
The Lakers made a huge gamble this offseason when they traded for Russell Westbrook, sacrificing a lot in the process. But after a winless preseason and a bad start to the regular season, the questions are now piling up. The Athletic's Bill Oram joins us to explain why the Lakers went all in on Westbrook,[...]
When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed Manchester United manager in December 2018 there were plenty of doubts about the former-striker's ability to lead one of the biggest clubs in world soccer. Three years later, after a drubbing at the hands of United's fiercest rival, many people in and around the club are wondering if Solskjaer's[...]
One of the biggest stories of the NHL season so far involves a guy who hasn't even set foot on the ice -- Buffalo Sabres superstar Jack Eichel. After injuring his neck last season, Eichel and his team have now come to an apparent impasse over what kind of surgery he should have to repair[...]
The 2021 World Series gets underway tonight, and the Houston Astros are making an appearance for the third time in the last five seasons. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves are back in the World Series for the first time since 1999. Today, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli tells us how these two powerhouses offenses match up, what’s[...]
Coming into this season, the Seattle Seahawks were expected to contend for the NFC West title. However, heading into a Monday night matchup against the Saints, they’re 2-4, with franchise QB Russell Wilson on the sidelines for the first time in his career. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar to consider whether journeyman[...]
The Houston Astros hold a 3-2 lead on the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, putting them one game away from another World Series appearance. For their manager, the legendary Dusty Baker, another shot at the Fall Classic could give him a chance to rewrite a postseason legacy filled with near misses and tough beats.[...]
Two years ago, LSU football coach Ed Orgeron won a national championship and was on top of the college football world. But now, the native Louisianan is on his way out, with the school announcing on Sunday that he will not be back to coach the Tigers again next season (despite having several years left[...]
The Atlanta Braves had the fewest regular season wins of any team in the MLB playoffs. But now, they’re up two games to one on the reigning World Series champions, the L.A. Dodgers — and they’ve shown a knack for winning games in dramatic fashion along the way. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David O’Brien[...]
A couple weeks ago, the Brooklyn Nets were downplaying concerns about Kyrie Irving's vaccination status and eligibility to play this season. Then, after he was unable to play with the team during much of preseason, those questions became more persistent. And on Wednesday, Irving published a video on Instagram Live where he essentially doubled down[...]
The Baltimore Ravens made a statement on Sunday with their demolition of the Los Angeles Chargers. And while Lamar Jackson didn't put up spectacular numbers in that game, he's evolution as a passer is fueling this Ravens run to the top of the AFC. Today, The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec on what Jackson and the Ravens[...]
On Monday, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden resigned after an explosive investigation by the New York Times revealed emails they described as misogynistic and homophobic. Four days later, Raiders owner Mark Davis, who famously courted Gruden for years and made him one of the wealthiest coaches in the game, still has not addressed[...]
The 2021 college football season has been full of twists and turns. Alabama lost to an unranked opponent for the first time in over a decade. Clemson is adrift. And Ohio State looks like it has a real fight on its hands to scrap out of a wildly competitive Big Ten East. Today, we talk[...]
On Sunday in Phoenix, in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, the amazing postseason run continued for the Chicago Sky. As Game 2 approaches on Wednesday, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings to look at how Chicago turned things around after a brutal start to the season, and the no-panic mentality that was instilled[...]
Will the NHL's biggest superstar, Connor McDavid, finally have the supporting cast he needs to bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton? Can the league's new expansion team, the Seattle Kraken, duplicate what the Vegas Golden Knights did in their inaugural season a few years ago? Will the Tampa Bay Lightning become the first team[...]
Yet another English Premier League club has now been purchased by a group of Middle Eastern investors with deep ties to their country's government. In this case, the team is Newcastle United -- a club with a rich history, but plenty of recent frustration -- and a group of investors backed by the Saudi Arabian[...]
We’re just four weeks into the 2021 NFL season, but the Jacksonville Jaguars — and the Urban Meyer regime — seem to be spiraling out of control. Today, The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones on the controversy surrounding Meyer and a viral video this week, and a long history of red flags dating back to his time as[...]
NFL players (and especially NFL linemen) have to be huge to make it in the league. But what does that mean for their lives and their bodies after they retire? The Athletic’s Jason Jones recently interviewed a number of retired players about the challenges they face after football -- including the difficulty of changing their[...]
The NBA's current longest running soap opera is Ben Simmons' quest to get out of Philadelphia. And while the star forward has four years left on his deal with the Sixers, he's refused to come to training camp or relent on the trade demand he made after the team's epic flameout in last year's playoffs.[...]
The MLB Playoffs begin tonight, and there are some mouth-watering matchups: Yankees vs. Red Sox, Dodgers vs. Cardinals, Astros vs. White Sox, Brewers vs. Braves. And there are a whole lot of questions: Who will emerge from the do-or-die wildcard matchups? Who will end up as World Series champions? And what burning questions do each[...]
On Monday Night Football tonight, one the NFL's hottest dynamic duos will take center stage: Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen. The Athletic's Daniel Popper recently sat down with Herbert and Allen, and he joins us to explain how, after a rocky start, the two have developed a special kind of chemistry -- and why comparisons[...]
On Thursday, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan published a bombshell report that led to the near-immediate firing of Paul Riley, head coach of the North Carolina Courage and two-time NWSL coach of the year. Meg joins us today to talk about the troubling accusations in her story, and the moment of reckoning it has created within[...]
The NFL has managed to get the vast majority of its players vaccinated, thanks to a set of rules that make life pretty difficult -- and football careers much more challenging -- for those who refuse to get a shot. Meanwhile, the league has also made moves to cut down on taunting, causing some critics[...]
At the start of this month, the St. Louis Cardinals were barely hanging on at the fringe of the playoff picture. Now, they've clinched a spot in the postseason and are on a 17-game winning streak. Today, Katie Woo, who covers the Cardinals for The Athletic, breaks down the factors behind the team's dramatic turnaround[...]
Last week, just days before the start of their training camp — and a few weeks before the start of the NBA season — the Minnesota Timberwolves made a decision that shocked a lot of people, firing their President of Basketball Operations, Gersson Rosas. The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania reported on all the factors[...]
After three weeks of competitive action, it looks like the AFC West is the most competitive division in the NFL. The Los Angeles Chargers upended the five time divisional champ Chiefs, while the Raiders and Broncos remained undefeated. Today, The Athletic's Ted Nguyen breaks down the already white hot divisional race out west and he[...]
From the time he started playing baseball, Sang Ho Baek told his parents that he was going to become a famous pitcher, and would buy them a house someday. Then, after the family moved to the U.S. and Sang began blossoming as a player, his dream seemed within reach. But now the family is trying[...]
AC Milan is one of the most successful clubs in European soccer history. The Italian giants won 7 European titles and changed the way soccer was played on the continent on more than one occasion. Over the past decade, the once indomitable team has fallen on hard times. Two failed ownership bids and poor financial[...]
In a season where they have legit Super Bowl aspirations, the Los Angeles Rams are off to a 2-0 start, and their defense — led by superstars Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald — has been a huge part of that equation. But this season, the Rams’ high-powered D is also in the hands of a new coordinator[...]
The Milwaukee Brewers are absolutely running away with the NL Central this season, and that’s thanks largely to their incredible pitching staff. So what exactly is going on in Milwaukee? The Athletic's Eno Sarris recently crunched the numbers and spoke with MLB insiders, and he joins us today to talk about what sets the Brewers'[...]
Back in January, after a third straight losing season, the Detroit Lions hired a new head coach — former NFL tight end Dan Campbell — who wasted no time in making an unforgettable impression at his introductory press conference. With the Lions set to face the Packers on Monday Night Football, we’re joined by The Athletic’s[...]
One of the key pieces to last year's Super Bowl run by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- and an important part of their title hopes once again this season -- is wide receiver Mike Evans. But as important as Evans has been on the field for the Bucs, he has become even more beloved off[...]
When Jon Gruden returned to the Raiders, big promises were made about the team's return to its historic winning ways. But so far, wins and postseason berths are in short supply in Las Vegas. Despite numerous changes to the roster, the coaching staff, and the front office, the Raiders are still in the doldrums of[...]
Lately, one of the hottest teams in baseball has been one with a flair for the dramatic: the Toronto Blue Jays, led by Cy Young contender Robbie Ray and MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath to look at everything this team has been through in 2021 — including not[...]
The Las Vegas Aces' offense has been virtually unstoppable for most of the season. And while the team (and, in particular, reigning league MVP A'ja Wilson) have been lighting it up on the court, they’ve also been having a ton of fun off it. Today, The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins us to discuss the Aces'[...]
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers flopped...badly. Joe Burrow led the the Cincinnati Bengals to an overtime victory. Kyler Murray stole the show. And Trevor Lawrence actually lost a regular season football game. The Athletic's Arif Hasan joins us to break down some of the most surprising moments of the NFL's opening weekend, along with some[...]
Two weeks ago, Saints head coach Sean Payton was at a press conference, answering questions about preseason, when a reporter asked him if the team had a contingency plan for the storm that was forming off the Gulf Coast. Payton said it was the first he had heard about it. Twenty-four hours later, he and[...]
Seven months after Tom Brady and the Bucs beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the 2021 NFL season gets underway tonight, with the defending champions taking on Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. Today, The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia gives us seven (mostly) bold predictions for the upcoming season, including his picks[...]
One of the greatest soccer players in history is, in his words, coming home. Two weekends ago, Cristiano Ronaldo re-signed with Manchester United, the club where he first became world famous almost two decades ago. And now, on the heels of becoming the all-time leading goal scorer in international men's soccer, Ronaldo is expected to make[...]
A new Netflix documentary, released today, explores the life of American tennis star Mardy Fish, who famously withdrew from a U.S. Open match against Roger Federer back in 2012. In the years since that fateful day, Fish has opened up about his struggles with severe anxiety, and has become an outspoke advocate for change. Mardy[...]
The Athletic's Katie Strang recently broke the news that the Arizona Coyotes are essentially getting kicked out of their home arena in Glendale, AZ, citing multiple notices about outstanding and delinquent balances owed by the Coyotes. So, to explain how things have gotten so bad, we're replaying an episode that first aired back in February,[...]
On Sunday afternoon, two high school football teams took the field in what looked like an ordinary game, broadcast live on ESPN. And then things got weird. In the days that followed, the Internet became obsessed with one of the teams, Bishop Sycamore, and its elusive head coach, Roy Johnson. Now, amidst a public outcry[...]
One of the NFL's most compelling off-season storylines was the growing quarterback competition up in New England. The New England Patriots drafted Mac Jones to be the quarterback of the future, but it quickly became apparent that Jones might usurp incumbent starter Cam Newton — and that's exactly what happened. Head Coach Bill Belichick and[...]
It is the all-important month of September in Major League Baseball, with top contenders (including the Yankees and the Dodgers) aiming to peak at exactly the right time, and superstars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani hoping to make their MVP push. Today, The Athletic’s Joe Posnanski breaks down the biggest storylines to watch during[...]
Back in 2015, Logan Thomas was a quarterback on the Miami Dolphins practice squad, living out of a room ($68 a night) at a La Quinta Inn, with his wife, three kids and Great Dane — for 150 days. Five years later, in 2020, he emerged as a difference-making tight end for the Washington Football Team,[...]
With the Taliban returning to power in Afghanistan, many groups have been fearful of retribution, including the Afghan Women's National Soccer Team, which has long been a symbol of defiance to the ultra-conservative Islamic group. Last week, against all odds (and amidst the chaos at the Kabul airport), the players and their family members managed[...]
The start of the NFL season is now just two weeks away. And while teams have been hard at work in training camps, The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones has also been hard at work -- traveling to those camps. Lindsay joins us today to share her observations from recent trips to Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, and Denver,[...]
Heading into this MLB season — the 15th of his career — it looked like Joey Votto might be on the decline. But this summer, the charismatic Cincinnati Reds first baseman has found another gear. The Athletic’s Trent Rosecrans collected stories about Votto’s larger-than-life personality, and today, he joins us to look at how the veteran’s sometimes[...]
Manchester City dropped their opening game to Tottenham, but still look like title favorites. New signing Romelu Lukaku shined in his debut for Chelsea over the weekend, and the Blues are off to a perfect 2-0 start. Paul Pogba is off to a record-setting campaign for Manchester United, and the Red Devils also look poised[...]
With fans back in the stands during the 2021 MLB season, we’ve seen the return of one of baseball’s most unique traditions: fans interacting with outfielders while they’re playing in the field. However, as fun as these interactions can be, there are times that the dynamic turns dangerous, like the incident this year where a[...]
In late June, the college sports landscape changed forever when the NCAA's Board of Governors voted to allow student athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness -- or NIL. Notre Dame star safety Kyle Hamilton and his family have wasted no time in exploring what this new reality means for his ability to[...]
In her early teens, Morgan Stickney was a highly accomplished swimmer who had a legitimate shot at the Olympics. Then came a mysterious series of injuries that upended her life and left doctors across the country scratching their heads. Now, a decade later, Morgan is one of the U.S.‘s top swimmers and a favorite to[...]
For a lot of fans, the first thing that comes to mind with minor league baseball is family fun, goofy promotions and generally just an all-around happy environment. However, in 2021, the reality for the players — especially when it comes to finances — is a lot more bleak. The Athletic's Britt Ghiroli recently reported on[...]
A year ago, Tyler Gilbert was a minor league castoff who had returned to his hometown to train with his high school baseball coach and to work with his dad, who is an electrician. Then, this past weekend, against all odds, Gilbert threw a no-hitter for the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first major league start[...]
Nothing determines an NFL team's success more than the guy who lines up under center. But one of the trickiest things in the sport is figuring out which guys can really move the needle. For the past eight years, The Athletic's Mike Sando has polled coaches, general managers, and other decision makers from around the[...]
The Carolina Panthers are hoping to make some noise in the NFC South this season, and one key component to their success is their dynamic young defensive end, Brian Burns. As it turns out, Burns’s development has been fueled in part by his older brother, Stanley McClover, who endured a difficult stretch after his own[...]
The second season of Ted Lasso is now underway, and that means we’re all being treated to more hilarious scenes of Jason Sudeikis’s signature coaching character and his unyielding positivity. Earlier this year, The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd tracked down the real life coach who inspired Sudeikis's Lasso character, at least in part, and he joined[...]
At the Tokyo Olympics last week, U.S. track and field star Allyson Felix won gold in the women’s 4 x 400 meter relay, making her the most decorated American track and field athlete ever. Today, we’re replaying an episode that aired in the buildup to the Games. Tiffany spoke with The Athletic’s Kavitha Davidson (our very[...]
The word out of the San Francisco 49ers training camp is that rookie quarterback Trey Lance has been looking good, and head coach Kyle Shanahan recently said that the former North Dakota State star will definitely be getting minutes this year. So, today, we’re replaying an episode that first aired back in May, shortly after[...]
Over the weekend, a tearful Lionel Messi stood at a podium and announced that he would, in fact, be leaving Barcelona -- the team and city that have been his home for the past 21 years. But one of the silver linings of this sad saga is that Messi could very well be reunited with his[...]
Trey Mancini's incredible comeback story continues. In March of last year, the Baltimore Orioles first baseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer, and began undergoing cancer treatment -- right around the time the world was shutting down because of the pandemic. Today, the O's slugger is once again putting up solid numbers, and he[...]
You probably know that Simone Biles withdrew from several gymnastics events at the Olympics last week and then returned this week to win a bronze medal in the balance beam. But did you know that a statue of a sumo wrestler has been terrifying horses at equestrian events? Today on the show, we recap some[...]
At the Tokyo Olympics, Japan has more or less dominated the competition in a martial art that originated in Japan -- judo. But it turns out, it was actually an American who is responsible for judo becoming an Olympic sport in the first place. The Athletic's Daniel Brown recently sat down with the now 101-year-old[...]
We have reached the semifinals of the men’s Olympic basketball tournament, and one of the teams still standing is the three-time defending gold medalist United States. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Vardon — who’s in Tokyo — for the latest on Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Team USA, their biggest challengers for gold[...]
We have already seen a number of new Olympic sports make exciting debuts in Tokyo, including surfing and skateboarding. This week, we’re adding one more to that list, as we watch the first Olympic appearance of sport climbing. Today, we’re joined by Alex Honnold — from the Academy Award-winning documentary "Free Solo" — to look at how[...]
The college football world was thrown into a tizzy last week when Oklahoma and Texas announced that they planned to leave to their home in the Big 12 for the SEC by 2025. The story took an even stranger turn when Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby accused ESPN of trying to sabotage his conference to[...]
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first openly trans athlete to qualify for the Olympics earlier this year, and is considered one of the favorites to win a medal in her competition next week. Meanwhile, the South African runner (and two-time gold medalist) Caster Semenya is not competing in the Olympics at all this[...]
Coming into the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. Women's Soccer Team was the clear favorite to bring home a gold medal, which would make them the first team to ever a World Cup title and an Olympic title back-to-back. But after dropping their first game to Sweden 3-0, and battling Australia to a tough 0-0 draw,[...]
The Tokyo Olympics are in full swing, and already there have been a number of surprising developments from Japan, including Simone Biles deciding to withdraw from the women’s team gymnastics competition and the individual all-around competition, and Katie Ledecky losing for the first time ever at the Olympics — but rebounding to win gold. Today, we[...]
The NBA Draft is almost here and one of the most intriguing prospects at the top of the lottery is USC big man Evan Mobley. The seven footer's game has drawn comparisons to reigning finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and All-NBA big man Anthony Davis, but questions over his introverted personality and skinny frame have some[...]
Carissa Moore is not your typical surfer. Before she could walk, her father had her on his surfboard so that she could get the feel of the water. By age ten, she had been labeled a prodigy. At 14, she defeated the top-ranked women's surfer in the world (twice). And now, at age 28, she[...]
The Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics is tonight, and one of the biggest stars to watch on the U.S. team is five-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky. Today, The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us to tell the story of the backyard pool where Ledecky kept her training going in the spring of 2020, the[...]
At every Olympic Games, there are thousands of stories. This year, Simone Manuel looks to solidify her legacy as the greatest gymnast of all time. Katie Ledecky could become the most decorated female athlete in Olympic history. And Trayvon Bromell aims to claim the title of 'world's fastest man.' But there are also so many[...]
In each of the past two seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks came up short in the playoffs after amassing incredible regular season records. With each loss, the questions over whether this team, its coach, and its star player could ever get to the mountaintop grew. On Tuesday night, all those questions were answered. Giannis Antetokounmpo had[...]
The 2021 NBA Draft is next Thursday, and one guy who has defied the odds (in a truly unprecedented way) to become a projected pick is Ohio University junior Jason Preston. The Athletic's James Edwards III recently interviewed Preston, and he joins us to explain how the late-blooming guard went from being a high school[...]
U.S. track and field legend Allyson Felix is on the way to her fifth Olympic Games after qualifying for the 400 meter and the 4 x 400 meter relay. She and her 2-year-old daughter Camryn also stole the show (and kinda broke the Internet) at the Olympic Trials last month with an incredible display of[...]
The U.S. Men's National Basketball team has won four straight gold medals and looked pretty much unbeatable since 2004. That is, until recently. In the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Americans lost back to back games against Australia and Nigeria, and raised doubts over whether this team has what it takes to continue[...]
The 2021 NFL offseason has delivered a lot of surprising decisions, from the Bears moving up to draft Justin Fields to the Falcons moving on from franchise legend Julio Jones to the Raiders completely remaking their offensive line (for reasons that aren't entirely clear). Today, The Athletic’s Robert Mays joins us to break down some[...]
For weeks, Japanese citizens have been holding protests about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and saying that Japan should not be hosting the Games in the midst of a worsening coronavirus pandemic. A recent poll showed that 80 percent of the public opposes holding the Olympics, and medical experts have warned that the Games could be[...]
Chris Paul is not everyone's cup of tea. During the course of his career, the diminutive point guard has often rubbed teammates the wrong way during his career and that became an easy knock against one of the greatest players of his generation who never made an NBA Finals. Over the past few seasons, Paul[...]
Major League Baseball has arrived at the All-Star break, and during the first half of the season, no player has put on a more amazing all-around show than Angels slugger/ace Shohei Ohtani. Today, The Athletic’s Joe Posnanski joins us to break down some of the season’s biggest story lines, including Ohtani’s superhuman feats, Jacob deGrom’s[...]
After more than 50 years of waiting, England fans saw their team reach the final of a major tournament on Wednesday after the Three Lions knocked off Denmark at Wembley Stadium. The soundtrack for this historic run is a song that debuted 25 years ago, the last time England hosted a European tournament, and produced[...]
Two years ago, the Scripps National Spelling Bee had arguably the most dramatic -- and delightful -- ending in its nearly hundred-year history. After five rounds and forty-seven words spelled correctly, the judges threw in the towel and declared eight co-champions, much to the joy of the contestants and the millions who tuned in on[...]
Heading into the 2021 MLB season, the NL West was supposed to be a showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. But for the first half of the year, the San Francisco Giants stole the show. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly to look at how this team of[...]
Two years ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in NHL history, getting swept in the first round of the playoffs by the #8 seed Columbus Blue Jackets (after compiling the best regular season record in league history). It was the latest in a series of playoff failures for the[...]
Fernando Tatis Jr. has been red hot lately. So, today, we're replaying an episode that originally aired back in February, after the superstar signed his massive deal with the Padres. The Athletic’s Dennis Lin joined us to look at how the idea for Tatis Jr.’s deal was inspired by a pair of statues, and how[...]
The hottest bat in baseball doesn’t belong to Fernando Tatis Jr. or even Shohei Ohtani. No that title currently belongs to Washington Nationals left fielder Kyle Schwarber. After the worst season of his career in 2020, Schwarber has managed to get his groove back and take his game to new heights in 2021. Today, The[...]
On Tuesday night, we saw yet another injury to a star player during these NBA Playoffs, as Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a knee injury in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Today, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm on the Bucks chances for survival if they are without[...]
The Italian men's national soccer team is off to a flying start at the 2020 European Championship, and is now one of the favorites to win the tournament. Which makes it easy to forget that, just a few years ago, the Azzuri suffered through an almost unspeakable tragedy that the Italian press dubbed “The Apocalypse"[...]
In April, less than a month after their team was eliminated from the 2021 NCAA tournament, eleven players from the Syracuse Women's Basketball program had announced that they would be transferring from the program -- the most of any basketball program in the country. Head coach Quentin Hillsman said it was nothing to be concerned[...]
The Stanley Cup Finals begin tonight, with the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the upstart darlings of Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens. For the Lightning, all eyes will be on their superstar who missed the entire regular season, only to come back and lead them in scoring during the playoffs -- former Hart Trophy winner[...]
When Albert Pujols was released by the Angels, it seemed like it might the unceremonious end to a decorated career in Major League Baseball. Then Pujols raised eyebrows by signing with the Dodgers, a team in the National League with no designated hitter slot. People around the league wondered if Pujols had any gas left[...]
Four years ago, BIG3, the 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip-hop artist Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, was rolled out amidst a healthy dose of skepticism. But now, after a year off because of the pandemic, the league is still alive and is trying to pick up steam. The Athletic's Tashan Reed recently[...]
On Monday, Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history by becoming the first active NFL player to publicly come out as gay. The 28-year-old Nassib, who had previously played for the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (and who was one of the breakout stars of HBO's Hard Knocks in 2019) made the announcement in[...]
The Phoenix Suns have been the most dominant team in the playoffs so far. Despite being without their star point guard, Chris Paul, due to COVID-19, the Suns won their eighth straight playoff game on Sunday in Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Athletic's Jovan Buha has[...]
Last week, The Athletic's Tim Cato and Sam Amick published a report about tension and dysfunction within the Dallas Mavericks caused by research and analytics expert (and former professional gambler) Haralabos Voulgaris. The report claimed that Haralabos was acting as a 'shadow GM' for the team's owner, Mark Cuban, who responded by saying that claims[...]
The first week of Euro 2020 is in the books -- and what an opening week it has been. The Athletic's Adam Crawford joins us to break down some of the biggest and most fascinating storylines so far, including France's strong performance in their opening game against Germany, Cristiano Ronaldo's knack for making headlines both[...]
NBA fans woke up to some stunning news on Wednesday, when it was announced that Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, who has been absolutely electric during this year's NBA Playoffs, has been put on the league's Covid protocol and is out indefinitely. And from there, more and more big news stories just kept breaking. The[...]
Three years ago, the Montreal Canadiens were sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings and ripe for a rebuild. Instead of blowing up the team, GM Marc Bergevin looked West, to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, for a different approach to constructing his roster. Now, as the Habs and Knights face off in the[...]
Recently across Major League Baseball, the issue of pitchers using sticky substances to generate more spin — and therefore gain an advantage — has exploded into a controversy, with Yankees ace Gerrit Cole among those under scrutiny. Today, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli on how big this problem has become, how MLB and commissioner Rob Manfred[...]
As NFL teams move closer to the start of the 2021 season, many have run into a challenging dilemma -- how to handle players who are hesitant or flat out unwilling to get a Covid vaccine. This has led to some frustration on the part of coaches, executives, agents, and others working behind the scenes,[...]
There's been a lot of talk in recent years about the 'psychedelic revolution' coming in mental health, thanks to studies that have shown that drugs like MDMA (ecstasy or molly) and psilocybin (magic mushrooms), together with therapy, can have positive effects for people suffering from PTSD, depression, and other mental illnesses. But what many people[...]
Hopes are high in Nashville after the trade that brought superstar wide receiver Julio Jones from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tennessee Titans this week. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Rexrode to look at the gamble that the Titans (and their risk-taking GM, Jon Robinson) are taking by bringing in the 32-year-old, how[...]
Soccer fans were treated to an unforgettable spectacle on Sunday night when the U.S. Men's National Team squared off against Mexico in the final of the CONCACAF Nation's League. It was the first big test for what many are calling the 'Golden Generation' of U.S. men's soccer -- a collection of young players who are[...]
The Utah Jazz finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, but it seems like many people still aren’t taking them seriously as bona fide title contenders. Today, The Athletic’s Tony Jones joins us to break down the challenges that the Jazz have faced this season — from an injury controversy with[...]
Three years ago, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was one of the most prized prospects in all of baseball. His plate discipline, raw power, and notable lineage led everyone to believe he was destined for stardom at the major league level. Now after facing some adversity during his first two seasons as a pro, Guerrero is living[...]
We’re a few weeks into the WNBA’s 25th season, and already it’s been filled with signature moments from star players, including Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty recording just the ninth triple-double in league history. Today, The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings on some of the most notable early-season story lines, including one contender (the Chicago[...]
On Wednesday, the college basketball world received some surprising news with reports that Mike Krzyzewski is planning to retire at the end of next season after four decades as the head coach of Duke men’s basketball. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Brendan Marks to look at the factors behind Coach K’s decision, and what[...]
On Tuesday night, the Brooklyn Nets — led by Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and a huge game from James Harden — knocked out the Boston Celtics for the team’s first playoff series win in seven years. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer to look at one key component of Brooklyn's success — the[...]
During this year's NHL playoffs, a lot of people had been rooting for veteran Toronto Maple Leafs forward (and noted nice guy) Joe Thornton. At age 41, the former #1 overall pick had been striving to win the first Stanley Cup of his long and storied career before the Leafs were eliminated by the Montreal[...]
One of the most fascinating matchups in the first round of the NBA Playoffs has been the Dallas Mavericks against the Los Angeles Clippers -- a rematch of last year's battle in the NBA bubble. Today, we're rebroadcasting an episode that originally aired back in late March. The Athletic's Tim Cato joined us to talk[...]
Manchester City will be the favorites when they take on Chelsea in the Champions League Final on Saturday in Portugal. And while City's march to the final now feels almost inevitable, especially on the heels of yet another Premier League title, it's easy forget that this team was floundering in the middle of the pack[...]
The Jacksonville Jaguars are at the start of a brand new chapter, with a new head coach in Urban Meyer and a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. But right now, a lot of the talk in Jacksonville is centered around a former quarterback-turned-tight end: Tim Tebow. Today, The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to discuss[...]
The Vegas Golden Knights are one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year, and that's thanks in part to their 36 year-old goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury. The 3-time Stanley Cup Champion has been red-hot for the Knights so far this post-season after putting up the best numbers of his career during the regular[...]
The Phoenix Suns had the second best record in the NBA's Western Conference and a huge reason why was the play of their 36-year-old point guard, Chris Paul. The Suns acquired the surefire Hall of Famer this offseason and he has repaid them handsomely with MVP-caliber play this season. The Athletic's Sam Amick recently spoke[...]
Last week, when Yermin Mercedes of the White Sox homered on a 3-0 pitch in a blowout win over the Twins, it put the team — and manager Tony La Russa — at the center of the latest heated debate over baseball’s unwritten rules. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s James Fegan to look at all[...]
Over the second half of the NBA season, not many teams have been as hot as the Atlanta Hawks, who posted a 27-11 record under interim coach Nate McMillan after going 14-20 (with a ton of late-game collapses) under previous head coach Lloyd Pierce. Today, The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner on all the ups and downs[...]
When the San Francisco 49ers selected North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance with the third overall pick at the 2021 NFL Draft, it made headlines across the country. But nowhere did it generate more excitement than in his hometown of Marshall, Minnesota. The Athletic’s Dan Hayes recently traveled from the Twin Cities to the rural town[...]
Major League Baseball's current home run leader is also... one of its best starting pitchers? It might seem too strange to be believed, but Shohei Ohtani is changing everything we thought we knew about what's possible in professional baseball. Today, we're joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark who tells us about some of the Angels[...]
The defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers got LeBron James back on the court over the weekend, but they’re in a position that very people would have expected heading into this season, having to scrap their way into the playoffs — and into a play-in tournament matchup against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Today,[...]
The NHL Playoffs began this weekend, and the first few games have not disappointed. The Athletic's James Mirtle joins us today to break down the biggest and most fascinating storylines to follow in this year's playoffs. Can Connor McDavid's individual brilliance lift the Edmonton Oilers above mediocrity? Can the offensively talented Pittsburgh Penguins give "Sid[...]
Early on this season, Anthony Edwards looked like a 19-year-old rookie trying to figure things out in the NBA. But lately, the number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has flipped the switch. Today, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski on how Edwards managed to level up his game and make a run at Rookie of[...]
So far, 2021 has been the year of the pitcher -- and none have been better than Mets ace Jacob DeGrom. But what has made DeGrom's performance this year so remarkable is that, among other things, he’s throwing harder as he gets older. Tim Britton, who covers the Mets for The Athletic, recently spoke with[...]
Will the Seattle Storm (and their big three of Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, and Jewell Loyd) repeat their dominance from last season? What will young superstar Sabrina Ionescu look like this season after missing almost all of last year with an injury? And who will bring home MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Championship honors[...]
The Carolina Panthers turned some heads in the 2021 NFL Draft by selecting cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall, when Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was among the players still available. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Person to look at why the Panthers made Horn their choice, and how he was groomed for success[...]
The Milwaukee Bucks have been one of the best regular season teams in the NBA over the past two seasons, but that success hasn't really translated to the playoffs. To try and improve their fortunes in the postseason the team acquired guard Jrue Holiday this offseason in a blockbuster trade. Today we're joined by The[...]
Tom Wilson is a feared man. The Washington Capitals winger has served multiple suspensions during his NHL career and is considered by many to be the most reckless and dangerous hockey player in the entire NHL (while also being a very good player). And all of that is why the hockey world was thrown into[...]
Over the last week, the focus of the football world was supposed to be on the NFL Draft. Instead, all eyes have been on the league’s reigning MVP, Aaron Rodgers. Today, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman on how things have unfolded since Rodgers dropped the news that he no longer wants to be in Green Bay,[...]
The Washington Wizards have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA recently, and have been making a big push toward the playoffs. And while some long-suffering fans are thrilled about the prospect of playoff hoops returning to Washington D.C., others feel the team is shooting itself in the foot by eliminating their chances[...]
In today's Champion's League semifinal match between Paris St. Germain and Manchester City, one player in particular will be heavily scrutinized and critiqued -- PSG's Brazilian superstar, Neymar. For years, he has dazzled the soccer world with his incredible skills, and simultaneously enraged many fans and opponents with his over-the-top antics. The Athletic's Jack Lang,[...]
The 2021 NFL Draft is officially behind us, and over the course of three days in Cleveland, we saw the expected (Trevor Lawrence to the Jags), the unexpected (the Bears trading up to get Justin Fields) and the confusing (the Raiders). Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia, who hands out his letter grades[...]
The 2021 NFL Draft started out as everyone expected, with Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson going first and second overall to the Jaguars and Jets. From there, things got interesting. Today, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue joins us to break down the biggest and most surprising moments of the night, including the 49ers choosing Trey Lance,[...]
The NFL Draft always brings intense speculation, insight and analysis. But it also brings some of the most emotional moments in sports -- moments when players and their families realize a lifelong dream and see their futures transformed in a single moment. Today, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner brings us the story of Western Michigan wide[...]
Just three years ago, the Carolina Hurricanes were in the midst of a decade-long NHL playoff drought. Today, they have the best record in the league and have already clinched a playoff berth. Along the way, the team captured the hearts and minds (and in some cases, the ire) of the hockey world with their[...]
Stephen Curry put up historic numbers in April and almost single-handedly dragged this Warriors team into playoff contention. The two-time MVP has made a strong case for a third trophy, and silenced many of his critics in the process. Today, The Athletic's Zach Harper joins us to talk about Curry's incredible performances over the past[...]
Much of the debate around this year’s NFL draft, which kicks off on Thursday, has been about the talented group of quarterbacks at the top of the class. From Clemson's Trevor Lawrence to BYU's Zach Wilson, and Ohio State's Justin Fields to North Dakota State's Trey Lance, many NFL teams will be betting big on[...]
Just three seasons ago, the Colorado Rockies won 91 games and reached the postseason. Now, in 2021, they are considered by many to be the worst team in baseball. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Groke to look at the series of missteps that took the Rockies from contender to punchline, and how they[...]
It has been one of the most spectacular collapses in sports history. On Sunday, many of the world's largest soccer clubs announced that they were forming a new 'Super League' -- by invitation only, and accessible only to the wealthiest and most historic teams in the land. But then came the backlash. Fans, players, managers,[...]
When Mike Trout signed his record breaking contract with the Los Angeles Angels two years ago, some people were surprised that the best player in baseball was choosing to stay with a team that had only made the playoffs once in a decade, and didn’t look like it would be a World Series contender any[...]
The Brooklyn Nets have gone all-in on winning the NBA title this year, but for much of the season, their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving has had a hard time just staying on the floor. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer to look at how Steve Nash and[...]
The NFL Draft is fast approaching and LSU's Ja'Marr Chase is widely expected to be the first receiver to come off the board. Chase burst onto the national scene during the Tigers undefeated championship run in 2019, but he raised some eyebrows by choosing to opt out of the 2020 season over COVID-19 concerns. Today,[...]
Last weekend, there was a fresh new voice calling out the starting lineups inside Chase Center, and getting Golden State Warriors fans hyped in the process. It belonged to Aaron 'Showtime' Taylor, a man who cut his teeth as a basketball announcer inside San Quentin State Prison -- and who spent more than 25 years[...]
Major League Soccer is still not making money, and only about a quarter of the league’s teams turn a profit, according to Forbes. And yet the cost of buying an MLS team, or buying into the league, is skyrocketing -- and growing at a much faster rate than the NFL, NBA, or MLB. We've also[...]
While the defending champion L.A. Lakers are trying to stay afloat until they get LeBron James and Anthony Davis back, the team that shares an arena with them has been taking things to another level. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Law Murray to look at why things have really started to click for Paul[...]
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the best teams in the NHL this year and goalie Jack Campbell has been a major factor in their success. As a teenager, Campbell was touted as the next great phenom in American hockey, but his time with the Dallas Stars was derailed by injury and a loss[...]
It's been an eventful few days for the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Thursday it was revealed that MLB was inspecting baseballs used by the team's new star pitcher, Trevor Bauer, in a game against the Oakland A's -- and that the balls had visible markings and were sticky, according to an exclusive report from The[...]
If you’ve been near a screen in the last six months or so, there’s a pretty decent chance you’ve heard the terms NBA Top Shot and NFT, which have star athletes ranging from Rob Gronkowski to Patrick Mahomes to Bryson DeChambeau getting in on the action. Today, The Athletic’s Bill Shea explains exactly what NBA[...]
By 1989, the Chicago White Sox knew they needed to refresh their image. The team had struggled for years and became known for their constantly changing uniforms. Then, thanks to some savvy marketing and a team of high-profile stars, the South Siders managed to create a brand that has survived the test of time. Today,[...]
On Friday, many people were caught off guard by Commissioner Rob Manfred's decision to move the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game out of Georgia, in response to the state's controversial new voting law and growing public pressure. And on Tuesday, MLB announced that the game would instead be held in Colorado. Amidst all the[...]
When Brandon Staley first spoke to the media as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this year, he went out of his way to give credit to his parents. As it turns out, Staley’s commitment to his family — and to his twin brother Jason — led to an unlikely connection that helped spark his[...]
The Stanford Cardinal and head coach Tara VanDerveer captured their first women's basketball national championship in twenty-nine years on Sunday, narrowly beating out Arizona. The Athletic's Chantel Jennings joins us to break down both teams's remarkable journey just to get to the title game, why Stanford managed to persevere, and how Arizona’s 5-foot-6 superstar Aari[...]
The Final Four is here, and Gonzaga is poised to make history. The Zags are set to be the first men's team to go undefeated for an entire season since the Indiana Hoosiers pulled off the feat in 1976. So the question is: Who can stop Mark Few's team from making history? Today, The Athletic's[...]
After a strange and abbreviated 60-game season in 2020, it’s finally time for Major League Baseball’s 2021 Opening Day — which is happening right on time. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli to look at some of the story lines that will define the 2021 season, including the Yankees borrowing a page from[...]
Minnesota Timberwolves executive John Thomas grew up just a few blocks away from the convenience store where George Floyd was killed. Since that tragic incident, which inspired a national reckoning and global movement, Thomas has been on a mission to build bridges and inspire change in his old neighborhood in South Minneapolis. The Athletic's Jon[...]
For much of this season, the Dallas Mavericks have been a difficult team to figure out, and on the surface they looked like one of the league’s biggest disappointments during an 8-13 start. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Tim Cato to go behind the scenes of their roller coaster campaign, breaking down all the[...]
The NFL Offseason is in full swing. There have been draft disrupting trades, big money signings, and some moves that left people scratching their heads. Today, The Athletic's Mike Sando joins us to talk about some of the key storylines from the free agency period and if anyone has done enough to unseat the defending[...]
On Thursday, a couple of the Lakers’ top rivals made notable moves at the NBA trade deadline, with the Nuggets picking up Aaron Gordon, and the Clippers adding former Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo. Meanwhile, the defending champs — who are currently without LeBron James and Anthony Davis — did nothing. Today, we’re joined by The[...]
On Tuesday, UConn Women's Basketball coasted past Syracuse into its 27th consecutive Sweet Sixteen. One of the key drivers of the Huskies success this season is Freshman star Paige Bueckers. And the 19-year-old guard is more than just a basketball prodigy, she's also a social media sensation who has more Instagram follower than people like[...]
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper won his first hockey championship more than two decades ago, and far from the spotlight of the NHL. At the time, he was an underpaid, 32-year-old public defender and first-year head coach with the Lansing Catholic High School Cougars -- a position that the former college lacrosse player[...]
Three years after their remarkable run to the Final Four, the Loyola Chicago Ramblers are at it again, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament after knocking off No. 1-seeded Illinois over the weekend. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Brian Hamilton to discuss the return of 101-year-old team chaplain Sister Jean, star[...]
The New York Mets had an eventful off-season. First, the team was purchased by billionaire Steve Cohen who made big promises about a new day for Mets baseball. Cohen initially appeared to be living up to that pledge when the team traded for Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor — one of the brightest young stars in[...]
A third lawsuit has been filed against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, and the NFL announced on Thursday that it is launching its own investigation into the matter. The Athletic's Aaron Reiss, who covers the Texans, joins us to discuss the latest, including the colorful lawyers on both sides, and how the lawsuits could impact[...]
A few weeks ago at the Golden Globes, Jason Sudeikis won the award for Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy for his performance as Ted Lasso, the American football coach who goes to England to coach professional soccer. It turns out that character is based, in part, on a real-life coach from[...]
It was one of the strangest moments in hockey history. During a nationally-televised NHL playoff game in 2018, Boston Bruins star Brad Marchand leaned in close to a Tampa Bay Lightning opponent...and licked his face. And it was the second time Marchand had done this in two weeks. But since then, the frequently suspended and[...]
Need a little help on your office pool bracket? Or are you just really excited to watch the drama of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament unfold? Either way, The Athletic's Seth Davis, who also covers the tournament for CBS Sports, has you covered. Seth joins us to explain who he thinks will win it all,[...]
So far during this NBA season, you can make an argument that no player has had a bigger impact on his team’s success than Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider to look at why the triple-double threat is playing the best basketball of his life, and the unexpected[...]
Dawn Staley is one of the most accomplished players and coaches in basketball history. Over the past 13 years, she's built a powerhouse program at the University of South Carolina, and recently took home her sixth SEC championship in the past seven years. Outside of her basketball accomplishments Staley has become well-known for her outspoken[...]
The Portland Trail Blazers start the second half of their season with a big matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. And so far, they’ve gotten another MVP-caliber season from point guard Damian Lillard. However, over the last 18 months, Lillard has endured a wave of tragedies in his life outside of basketball. The[...]
Back in October, the Detroit Tigers hired a new manager, and normally, a last place team making such a move would fly under the radar. But the Tigers didn’t hire just any manager — they hired A.J. Hinch. The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen recently did a long interview with the former Astros manager, and he joins[...]
Over the past year and a half, Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland has established himself as one of the best goal scorers in world soccer. At just 20 years of age, the Norwegian is already rewriting the record books and hoping to carry his team to Champions League glory. Today, the Athletic's Raphael Honigstein describes how[...]
Rudy Gobert played in his second consecutive NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, further cementing his reputation as one of the league's very best players. But while many basketball fans today think of Gobert as a powerhouse shot blocker and an inevitable superstar, there was a time when his success in the league was much[...]
The NBA has officially arrived at the All-Star break, and before the season hit its halfway point, we saw — among other things — another huge performance from Joel Embiid. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Wosny Lambre to break down the big man’s case for MVP, consider why LeBron and the Lakers are still the[...]
In February, 2020, Baltimore Orioles' first baseman Trey Mancini figured his life couldn't get much better. He was coming off a breakout 2019 season, he had signed a big new contract with the Orioles, and he was a few months into an exciting new relationship. But a month later, baseball had shut down and Mancini,[...]
Los Angeles-based doctors Nilesh Vora, Rahim Govani and Salima Thobani were three of the 7,500 vaccinated frontline healthcare workers invited to attend the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. But what started as a relaxing getaway from the stresses of fighting Covid-19 abruptly devolved into another harrowing brush with death. The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue tells the[...]
Last season, Julius Randle was arguably the Knicks' most despised player. Last week, fans gave him a standing ovation and chanted "MVP" at Madison Square Garden. The Athletic's Mike Vorkuov, who covers the Knicks, walks us through his remarkable journey from Lakers castoff to Knicks underachiever to NBA All-Star -- and explains how a new[...]
Last week, some big news came out of Seattle, with multiple reports suggesting that Russell Wilson could be seeking a trade to another team. Today, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar takes us inside the rift between Wilson, head coach Pete Carroll and the team, with a look at some of the key steps that have driven them[...]
In the early 1960s, the country was still highly segregated and Black athletes, particularly those growing up in the South, didn't have a lot of options when it came to college football. Most ended up at HBCUs, which were largely overlooked or ignored by professional football scouts. But Lloyd Wells, a newspaperman and raconteur from[...]
Last season, San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was among the most electric players in all of baseball. Last week, the team signed their emerging star to a massive 14-year, $340 million contract extension. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Dennis Lin to look at how the idea for Tatis Jr.’s deal was inspired[...]
In the aftermath of Tiger Woods's shocking car crash on Tuesday morning, Brendan Quinn joins us to discuss what we know about the accident, the latest on Tiger's condition, and the uncomfortable parallels (and differences) between this accident and his infamous car crash of 2009. We also discuss what the injuries he sustained in the[...]
This past weekend, we saw the roller coaster nature of the New Orleans Pelicans season, as they lost a game where they got outscored 41-12 in the 4th quarter, then turned around and pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history two days later. Zion Williamson made some big plays late in that game against[...]
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has long enjoyed a friendly -- and mutually respectful -- relationship with NBA players. So, when superstars like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokonmpo and others recently criticized the league's decision to hold the NBA All-Star Game during the pandemic, many people were taken aback by the frankness of their comments. The Athletic's[...]
Marcell Ozuna was one of the best hitters in baseball last season, and a key component of an Atlanta Braves team that nearly reached the World Series. After a long offseason and months of uncertainty, the Braves finally agreed to a deal with the free agent to keep him in Atlanta for an extended run.[...]
During this college basketball season, the player who has arguably been more dominant than anyone else is the nation’s leading scorer, Iowa big man Luka Garza. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Brian Hamilton to look at how Garza developed his game by studying old VHS tapes in his basement — from Hakeem Olajuwon to Jack[...]
The Utah Jazz are on an incredible tear. They're 19-1 in their last twenty games, they have the best record in the NBA, and they've beaten the 76ers, Heat, Bucks, and Celtics in their last four games. Much of their success, of course, is due to budding superstar Donovan Mitchell, who has his fair share[...]
The struggles of the Arizona Coyotes have been well documented over the years. There has been a revolving door of owners, difficulty building a permanent fan base, and a bankruptcy filing that led to an NHL takeover of the team back in 2009. So, when self-made billionaire Alex Meruelo swooped in to purchase the team[...]
When Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski connected for two touchdown passes in Super Bowl LV, it marked the latest chapter in their storied history. So, in honor of their record-setting partnership, we're revisiting the moment when, to many people's surprise, Gronk came out of retirement and signed with the Bucs. The Athletic's Greg Auman joined[...]
There has never been a sports broadcaster quite like Bill Walton. For more than three decades, the NBA legend has graced the airwaves with his unique blend of goofiness, passion, head-scratching analogies, and all of the Grateful Dead t-shirts. So, what can a reporter learn from a late-night conversation with the broadcaster who makes on-air[...]
When Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David won the Super Bowl on Sunday, it was the culmination of years and years of hard work. And the victory also meant the world to someone from David's past -- his best friend and former high school teammate (who outshined him on the gridiron growing up), Quavon Taylor.[...]
Last week, Fred VanVleet scored 54 points against the Orlando Magic, passing DeMar DeRozan for the Toronto Raptors’ franchise record, and Moses Malone for the most ever by an undrafted player in the NBA. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eric Koreen to look at VanVleet’s rise as a player, including the big bet he[...]
The Associated Press released its new Top 25 for men’s college basketball on Monday, and for the first time in 60 years, the Top 25 has no UNC, no Kentucky, no Kansas, no UCLA — and no sign of the suddenly struggling Duke Blue Devils. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil to look[...]
Tom Brady is a champion once again, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs defense shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs' offense, and Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Leonard Fournette propelled the Bucs to a surprisingly easy 31-9 Super Bowl victory on Sunday night. The Athletic's Lindsay Jones joins us from[...]
Before this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had not been to the playoffs in twelve years, and most of those seasons they weren’t even close. But now, in a remarkable turn of events, the team is heading to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2002. It might seem like a dramatic one-year turnaround,[...]
In just his third season as the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes will face off against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on Sunday trying to win his second straight Super Bowl title. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nate Taylor to look at why the Chiefs first fell in love with[...]
Like just about everything else this year, the broadcast of Super Bowl LV will be unusual. The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, who covers sports media, joins us to explain what to expect -- from poems, to commercials, to health care workers, to halftime entertainment -- and why he believes Tony Romo, who will doing color commentary[...]
The road to becoming an elite high school quarterback can be both long and expensive. So, if a kid really wants to be the next Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes, how much should a parent expect to spend? The Athletic’s Antonio Morales recently spoke with parents of some of the country's most elite young quarterbacks[...]
The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting alone at the top of the Eastern Conference, and a huge reason why has been the early-season dominance of Joel Embiid. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Derek Bodner to look at how some key adjustments — and key additions — have helped bring out the big man’s best, and whether[...]
One of the greatest baseball players of all time, and a civil rights icon, passed away last Friday at age 86. Today, five writers from The Athletic who knew Henry Aaron, grew up idolizing him, and drew inspiration from him join us to reflect on his incredible life and legacy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and[...]
Last month, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon made history against LeBron James and the Lakers, becoming the first woman to lead an NBA team in a regular season game. The Athletic’s Christopher Kamrani recently spoke with NBA players Hammon has coached during her time in San Antonio, as well as WNBA players she[...]
When Caris LeVert was dealt to the Pacers as part of the James Harden trade, his post-trade physical — usually a formality — revealed something scary: a small mass on his left kidney. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bob Kravitz to look at what’s ahead for LeVert, why the Pacers decided to still go through[...]
A year ago today, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people were killed in a tragic helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles. In remembrance of that tragedy, we’re re-broadcasting an episode that originally aired in February of last year, three weeks after Kobe’s death. Reporter Michael Lee, who covers the NBA and lives[...]
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will be heading to Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay to face off against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in a quarterback storyline that writes itself. The Athletic's Arif Hasan joins us to break down how the Bucs managed to get by the Green Bay Packers in the[...]
Robert Tonyan has emerged as one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets this year, especially in the red zone, as Rodgers has found Green Bay’s breakout tight end for 11 touchdowns. Today, The Athletic’s Dan Pompei tells Tonyan’s origin story as a football player, how he transformed from college quarterback to college wide receiver to NFL[...]
During the first month of the NBA season, CJ McCollum was well on his way to a career year for the Portland Trail Blazers. But this week, his season ran into a major setback with the news that he sustained a fractured foot. Today, The Athletic’s Jason Quick on how three conversations had the 29-year-old[...]
On Tuesday morning, the New York Mets fired GM Jared Porter, just hours after ESPN reported that he had sent inappropriate and graphic text messages to a woman reporter back in 2016, when he was the director of professional scouting for the Chicago Cubs. Brittany Ghiroli, a national baseball writer for The Athletic, joins us[...]
The New York Rangers surprised many by winning the #1 pick in last year's NHL draft lottery -- not least because they were nowhere near the worst team in the league. And winning the lottery meant winning the rights to French-Canadian teen sensation Alexis LaFreniere, who was the first player since Sidney Crosby to win[...]
It was another wild weekend in the NFL, with the Packers, Bucs, Bills and Chiefs all advancing to the Conference Championships. Lindsay Jones joins us to break down all the action, including howling winds, missed field goals, star quarterbacks suffering concussions, and backup QBs stepping up to make some heroic plays.More from Lindsay Jones:https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy[...]
Since Tommy Lasorda passed away last week at the age of 93, baseball fans have been remembering his life and legendary career as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, like the time he famously called on an injured Kirk Gibson to pinch-hit in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. We reached out to writers[...]
Months of speculation have finally come to an end: James Harden will be joining the Brooklyn Nets. The Athletic's Sam Amick joins us to break down how all of the recent Harden drama has unfolded, including his erratic play recently, and the messy press conferences where Harden and his Rockets teammates spoke their minds. And[...]
After being decimated by injuries and finishing at the bottom of the NBA last season, hopes were high for the Golden State Warriors coming into this year. But the feeling was that this team has a limited window to win another championship, with stars Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green not getting any younger.[...]
For a while, it looked like Ohio State might give Alabama a run for the money in the CFP National Championship game on Monday night. But then the Crimson Tide did what the Crimson Tide does -- they got some stops and continued pouring on the offense, eventually winning the game 52-24 and helping Nick[...]
This past weekend we had six NFL playoff games on the schedule, with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens getting revenge on the Titans, while the Bills and the Browns both picked up their first playoff wins since the 1990's. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Arif Hasan to break down some of the weekend’s biggest[...]
During the first half of this NFL season, there was almost no stopping Russell Wilson, DK Metcalf and the Seattle Seahawks passing game. However, in the second half, it’s been a lot less #LetRussCook, and a lot more of Russ handing off, with the team grinding out wins on defense. Today, we’re joined by The[...]
After three straight years of incredible playoff disappointments (and arguably the worst no-call in NFL history), the New Orleans Saints might be facing their last real chance at a Super Bowl for some time. The Athletic's Larry Holder, who has been covering the team since Drew Brees' arrival 15 years ago, joins us to break[...]
For the last few weeks, Kevin Harlan has been hard at work calling NBA games for TNT, with one notable exception. Rather than call these games from the arena, he’s been doing play-by-play from his basement in Kansas. The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch recently got a virtual tour of Harlan’s underground broadcast studio, and today he[...]
Two weeks into the NBA season and things are already getting spicy. The Athletic’s Zach Harper joins us to look at three of the most interesting storylines thus far: the Suns’ possible playoff potential, the mercurial but perhaps too talkative Clippers, and the Milwaukee Bucks' quest to turn the page on their playoff struggles.More from[...]
The Cleveland Browns snapped an 18-year playoff drought, the Baltimore Ravens continued their hot streak, and the Tennessee Titans clinched the AFC South in dramatic fashion, setting up a mouth-watering first round game against the Ravens. Lindsay Jones joins us to break down the AFC's wild Week 17, and to discuss what these three teams[...]
With 2020 now officially in the books, we’re taking a final look back at the year in sports -- and replaying one of our favorite episodes of 2020. It’s about Baltimore’s most unforgettable young sports fan, Mo Gaba, who inspired people throughout the city and across the world before passing away from cancer. The Athletic’s Britt[...]
In late October, the L.A. Dodgers ended their World Series drought in one of most surreal nights in baseball history. Today, as part of our look back at the year in sports, we’re re-airing our episode about that game. The Athletic’s Pedro Moura joined us to discuss the strange night in Texas when the Dodgers[...]
Back in August, there was a stunning night when the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court against the Orlando Magic inside the NBA bubble. This was shortly after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin -- an event that triggered protests in Wisconsin and across the country. As part of our look back at[...]
For years, the location of an iconic Joe Paterno statue, which once stood on the Penn State campus, has been unknown. Today, as part of our look back at 2020, we’re replaying an episode about the statue that first aired back in June. The Athletic’s Audrey Snyder spoke with us about why Penn State has[...]
Back in March, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and its lawsuit over equal pay once again came into the national spotlight. Today, we’re replaying an episode about that case as part of our look back at 2020. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joined us to break down the controversy that led to a major backlash[...]
Back in March, the NBA suspended play in sudden and dramatic fashion after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus. It was a night that, to many, signaled just how serious the pandemic had become -- and in the days that followed, life as we knew it changed. Today, as part of[...]
In February, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl thanks to a dramatic fourth quarter comeback. It was the first Super Bowl victory for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Pat Mahomes -- a duo that could now be building a dynasty in Kansas City. Today, as part of our look back at[...]
As the year comes to an end, we're replaying some of our best and most memorable episodes of 2020 -- the stories that defined the year in sports. First, we're revisiting the fateful day in late January when Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people were killed in a tragic helicopter crash, shocking[...]
The NBA season begins tonight, with a very familiar name making his coaching debut for the Brooklyn Nets: Steve Nash. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer to look at how the last five years (including a bond with Steve Kerr and Kevin Durant in Golden State) have prepared Nash for this moment, and[...]
A few weeks ago, Trevor Lawrence had been all but written off as a Heisman Trophy candidate. But after his impressive performance against #2 ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, the Clemson star might now be back in the running. The Athletic's Grace Raynor joins us to discuss Lawrence’s roller coaster of a 2020 season, what[...]
Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer became the all-time winningest head coach in women’s college basketball history this week. The Athletic’s Zac Boyer joins us to discuss what makes the 67-year-old coach so special (according to those who have played for her), how good this year's top-ranked Cardinal team really is, and why Vanderveer’s legacy extends well beyond[...]
The New Orleans Pelicans made a lot of changes this offseason, trading away point guard Jrue Holiday, bringing in Stan Van Gundy as head coach and picking up center Steven Adams from Oklahoma City. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Will Guillory to look at how Adams’s toughness can make life easier for Zion Williamson,[...]
Tottenham takes on Liverpool today in a matchup of the top two teams in the Premier League. For Spurs coach Jose Mourinho, this season's success has been a welcome return to the spotlight, after several years of failure (and falling outs) at Manchester United and Chelsea. The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to talk about[...]
This past weekend, the Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North title, and their dominant offense came up big in the red zone once again. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman to look at why Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and many other Packers players draw motivation from the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember,[...]
When the NBA season tips off next week, the Washington Wizards will have a very different look -- with new franchise point guard Russell Westbrook. The Athletic’s Fred Katz, who has gotten to know Westbrook well over the years, joins us to talk about how the former MVP landed in D.C., what he brings to[...]
Skyler Badillo, a former athletic training intern with New York City FC, wrote a series of social media posts this summer about harassment from -- and frequent touching by -- the team’s former superstar striker, David Villa. She also wrote that her bosses at the time thought it was “great comedic material.” Last month, she[...]
Last week, Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns spoke with a group of reporters for the first time since his mother passed away due to complications from Covid-19 in April. Towns revealed during that interview that he has lost even more loved ones since then. Today, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski on the 25-year-old’s painful journey, and the role[...]
One of the unheralded keys to the New Orleans Saints' recent success is defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn. The Athletic’s Dan Pompei recently interviewed Glenn and his former coach (and long-time mentor) Bill Parcells, and joins us to explain why the legendary coach sees something special -- including NFL head coach material -- in Glenn.Read[...]
Forty years ago today, the world was rocked by the news of John Lennon's tragic killing in New York. Through a roundabout series of events, the person to break the news to the country was legendary sports announcer Howard Cosell, who was broadcasting live from the studio of Monday Night Football. The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd[...]
The San Francisco 49ers came into this season expecting to make a second straight trip to the Super Bowl, but so far they’ve been hit by a wave of injuries to star players, including Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Matt Barrows to look[...]
The pandemic threw the NFL into a bit chaos this week, when an outbreak on the Baltimore Ravens caused their Thanksgiving Day game against the Steelers to be rescheduled multiple times, and eventually played the following Wednesday (with a severely depleted Ravens squad). The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to talk about one of the[...]
The Ohio State Buckeyes have played just one game in the last three and a half weeks, but in his limited opportunities this season, Justin Fields has been spectacular. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bill Landis to discuss what the shortened season means for Ohio State’s national title hopes, how Fields has brought a[...]
The Los Angeles Clippers lost a key player from their rotation recently when Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell decided to join LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rival Los Angeles Lakers. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha to look at how Harrell’s replacement, Serge Ibaka, might make the Clippers even better as[...]
Diego Maradona, arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, passed away last week from a heart attack at the age of 60. It's possible that no athlete is more loved by his home country or more symbolic of its hopes and dreams than Maradona and Argentina -- and yet the diminutive playmaker also developed[...]
Week 12 of the NFL season had some strange twists and turns -- even before play began. The Athletic’s Arif Hasan joins us to break down a strange weekend of action, including how the Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive (after starting the season 1-5), what’s going on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' inconsistent offense,[...]
Last week, Onyeka Okongwu’s NBA dream came true when the USC star was drafted #6 overall by the Atlanta Hawks. The Athletic’s Seth Davis interviewed Okongwu earlier this year and joined us to talk about how the young power forward went from relative unknown to college star, and how a family tragedy gave him renewed[...]
This spring, Alex Charlton — a football coach at Division II Midwestern State in Texas — made a bold decision. He left behind his coaching job to work as a nurse in Manhattan — in a COVID section of the emergency room — at a time when the coronavirus pandemic in New York was particularly deadly. The[...]
The men’s college basketball season tips off tonight, and the top ranked team, which opens on Thursday against Kansas, is the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil recently spent time with the team and head coach Mark Few (who has been at the helm for two decades), and she joins us to explain how the[...]
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts narrowly defeated Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, and their defense came up big once again. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Zak Keefer to look at how the Colts have rebuilt around defensive stars including DeForest Buckner and Darius Leonard, and the impact that defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus[...]
Jrue Holiday. Gordon Hayward. Montrezl Harrell. The NBA off-season is in full-swing and several players have already made big moves. The Athletic’s John Hollinger joins us to break down the biggest signings (some great, some questionable), the moves that could happen in the coming days, and which teams are looking most like title contenders.More from[...]
The Indiana Hoosiers have been arguably the biggest surprise in college football this season, thanks in part to their high-energy head coach, Tom Allen, and emerging star quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bob Kravitz to look at just how good this Indiana team is, whether they have a chance against[...]
Joe Burrow is just over halfway through his rookie season and, while his team has not been great, he has been. In addition to putting up big numbers and closing in on the rookie record for 300-yard games in a season, Burrow has also become the face of the franchise overnight and has stirred up[...]
LaMelo Ball is projected by many to be the first overall pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, the culmination of a basketball journey that has taken him from California to Lithuania to Ohio to Australia. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Vardon to discuss LaMelo’s growth and setbacks during his basketball odyssey, and why LaVar[...]
For more than two decades, Kim Ng has been expected to become the first woman to be named general manager of a Major League Baseball team. On Friday, that happened when the Miami Marlins announced that she would be leading their franchise. The Athletic’s Molly Knight, who got to know Ng during her time with[...]
A last-minute Hail Mary pass to pull out a dramatic victory, a quarterback catching a touchdown pass, and an NFL team stranded on the tarmac for over seven hours -- Week Ten of the NFL season was all totally, perfectly normal. The Athletic's Robert Mays joins us to break down the drama of an unforgettable[...]
Last weekend, the world lost an icon when legendary Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, who recently spoke to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers about his lifelong love of the show, his admiration of Trebek, and his experience meeting him as a Celebrity Jeopardy![...]
Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team, but they’ve had a number of extremely close games this season, including a narrow escape against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly to look at how Roethlisberger and the Steelers have managed to keep winning,[...]
Portland Trailblazers guard Gary Trent Jr. turned heads in this year’s NBA playoffs with a breakout performance and impressive shooting from behind the arc. But not a lot of people knew about the journey he was embarking on off the court. The Athletic’s Jason Quick has the story of the rising star's relationship with his[...]
On Sunday night, in a much-anticipated showdown against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 38-3 — the most lopsided loss of Brady’s NFL career. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Greg Auman to break down what went wrong for Brady and Bruce Arians on Sunday night, whether[...]
Four years ago, Notre Dame was 4-8. Two years ago, when they squared off against Clemson in the Cotton Bowl, they got scorched 30-3. But even as the Fighting Irish have struggled lately, head coach Brian Kelly and his staff have quietly been putting the pieces in place to compete with the country's top programs[...]
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government did something that it later apologized for and called a grave error: it rounded up and forcibly relocated tens of thousands of Japanese Americans, moving them to internment camps, where they lived in extremely harsh conditions for years. Inside one of those camps, near Topaz, Utah,[...]
So far in 2020, one of the most exciting players in college football has been Kansas State’s 5-foot-5, 168-pound running back, Deuce Vaughn. Today, The Athletic’s Max Olson on what makes the freshman phenom so difficult to stop, how he ended up at Kansas State, and whether he — like former Wildcats star Darren Sproles — has[...]
Mookie Betts is known to be one of the most competitive people in sports, and that drive helped him lead the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 1988. So, how did the star outfielder end up that way? And what makes him tick? The Athletic's Pedro Moura takes us inside the mind of[...]
After yer another loss, the New England Patriots are now 2-5 and all but out of the playoffs. And that means the question that people love to ask is being asked yet again, and with even more fervor -- is the Patriots dynasty officially over? The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, who has covered the Pats for[...]
On Sunday, Tua Tagovailoa got his first start for the Dolphins and picked up a win over the Rams, almost one year after the hip injury that ended his career at Alabama. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Josh Tolentino to discuss why Miami turned to Tagovailoa now, how he played in his debut, and[...]
Legendary hockey broadcaster Mike 'Doc' Emrick announced his retirement last week. Known for his meticulous preparation, his incredible voice, and his unparalleled vocabulary, Doc has called many of the biggest moments in NHL history. The Athletic's Craig Custance, who has known Doc for many years and recently interviewed him about his retirement, joins us to[...]
It’s been a 32-year wait for the Dodgers and their fans, but L.A. can finally celebrate a World Series victory once again. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Pedro Moura to look at the strange night in Texas when the Dodgers won the title, with the stunning decision to remove Blake Snell early, some late[...]
Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson picked up yet another injury on Sunday in his team's overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The fourth-year player has had to overcome an incredible number of injuries in his relatively short NFL career, but that has allowed him to move closer toward a goal that he has been[...]
It’s been a rough start to the season for the Philadelphia Eagles, but they’re still in first place in the NFC East, thanks in part to some impressive play from their new left tackle, Jordan Mailata. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bo Wulf to discuss Mailata’s amazing journey from rugby player in Australia to starting[...]
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has developed into one of best -- if not the best -- tight ends in the NFL. Coming into Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, which the 49ers won easily, he was second in the league among tight ends in receiving yards despite missing two games. The Athletic’s Scott[...]
Doris Burke has been there for many of the biggest moments in NBA history, whether it's on the court after a championship game, asking questions to superstars like LeBron James or Steph Curry, or calling games from beside the court. During her pioneering career, she has earned the respect of players, coaches, and fans, and[...]
The Carolina Panthers made a lot of changes this past offseason. They brought in a new head coach (Matt Rhule), a new quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater), and a new offensive coordinator (Joe Brady). They also added a speedy wideout who has taken his game to new heights: Robby Anderson. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe[...]
Twenty years ago, Neil Parry and the San Jose State football team were in the midst of the program's most successful season in years. But then, Parry's football career and his life were upended by a gruesome injury in a game against conference rival University of Texas El Paso, which resulted in him losing the[...]
The Tampa Bay Rays are back in the World Series for the first time since 2008, and rookie outfielder Randy Arozarena is a huge reason why. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris to discuss Arozarena’s journey from Cuba to Mexico to the big leagues, his penchant for dance-offs against teammates, and the adjustments[...]
The Buffalo Bills are sitting pretty atop the AFC East, and that's in large part thanks to the strong play of quarterback Josh Allen. But Allen faces a difficult test, and the ultimate measuring stick, when he and his teammates square off against Pat Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night. The Athletic’s[...]
Sergino Dest made history two weekends ago when he became the first American soccer player to suit up for Barcelona. This came after the 19-year-old right back was signed for 25 million euros from Ajax, where he starred last season. The Athletic's Paul Tenorio interviewed some of Dest's former coaches and teammates, and he joins[...]
Eric Bieniemy has been one of the masterminds behind the Kansas City Chiefs' potent attack for several seasons. The Athletic's Dan Pompei recently interviewed Bieniemy, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, and star QB Pat Mahomes (among others) to try and understand what makes the veteran offensive coach tick and why he's been so successful. Dan[...]
The Indianapolis Colts have had some convincing wins and disappointing losses this season, but when they’ve been at their best, they have gotten some big contributions from tight end Mo Alie-Cox. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Zak Keefer to look at Alie-Cox’s astonishing rise from college basketball star to NFL tight end, and how[...]
After the longest season in NBA history -- and perhaps the most difficult -- LeBron James and the Lakers hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy on Sunday night. The Athletic’s Bill Oram joins us to reflect on what this title means to 35-year-old LeBron and to a Lakers organization that did everything in its power to[...]
On Sunday, the Houston Texans finally picked up their first win of the season at the end of a chaotic week for the team, after they fired their head coach and general manager, Bill O’Brien. Today, we’re rebroadcasting an episode that originally aired back in May, with The Athletic’s Aaron Reiss joining us to look[...]
The Dodgers' long-time closer, Kenley Jansen, has been struggling lately, including a particularly rough outing against the Padres on Wednesday night. It's the latest in a long series of challenges the 33 year-old veteran has faced, including heart issues, an aging arm, and his entire family getting infected with the coronavirus. The Athletic's Pedro Moura[...]
Jimmy Butler has put together some phenomenal performances during this year’s NBA Playoffs, including a 40-point triple-double to give the Heat a win over LeBron James and the Lakers in Game 3. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s CJ Moore, who recently learned about how Butler honed his competitive edge during his college days at[...]
The Seattle Storm won their fourth WNBA championship on Tuesday night. And leading the way, once again, was 11-time all-star Sue Bird. The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings interviewed Bird earlier this season, and she joins us to discuss the timeless point guard’s remarkable resiliency, how she has guided the Storm to yet another championship, and why[...]
Quinton Byfield is expected to be selected with the second or third pick in Tuesday night's NHL draft. Scouts have been raving about the 18-year-old's incredible size and speed for years now, and he is expected to give a major boost to whichever team selects him. But, in addition to all the pressure of being[...]
The season started off in promising fashion for the Las Vegas Raiders, who were 2-0 after a win over the Saints at their new stadium. Now, Jon Gruden’s team has lost two straight, and has been under scrutiny for some of their behavior off the field, including a fundraiser where a number of players were[...]
Brenden and Colin Schooler were supposed to be playing college football together at the University of Arizona this fall. But then COVID-19 arrived and turned the world upside down. The Athletic's Max Olson has the story of how the Schooler brothers ended up as opponents rather than teammates, and as mercenaries rather than Wildcats --[...]
Many people were shocked when Frank Vogel eventually became the Lakers' new head coach last year. They said he wasn't a splashy enough signing for the bright lights of Los Angeles, and he wasn't able to coach in the modern game. The Athletic's Anthony Slater joins us to explain how Vogel has proven many of[...]
The Atlanta Braves begin the playoffs on Wednesday as the number two seed in the National League, and their longtime first baseman Freddie Freeman has had a huge role in their success. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David O’Brien to look at Freeman’s remarkable 2020 season, and how he put together an MVP-caliber campaign[...]
Brayden Point fired home the winning goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday night, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning hoist the trophy for the first time since 2004. It's the latest in a remarkable set of accomplishments for the talented center, who is now widely regarded as one of the very[...]
Many Seattle Seahawks fans have been frustrated for years over Russell Wilson not being allowed to throw the football as much as they would like. But now, thanks in part to a tweet that became a meme, which in turn became a movement, Russ is airing it out and he and the Seahawks are cooking.[...]
The Dallas Stars have made a somewhat unlikely run to the Stanley Cup Finals under interim head coach Rick Bowness, who took the helm in December after Jim Montgomery was fired for unprofessional conduct. It's the latest stop in a long and winding hockey career, which has turned Bowness into something of a legend in[...]
Heading into Thursday night’s Game 4, the Lakers have a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals, and Anthony Davis has played a huge role in L.A.’s postseason success. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bill Oram to look at how Davis has risen to the challenge in his first postseason playing alongside LeBron James,[...]
Last month, Cincinnati Reds announcer Thom Brennaman used a gay slur on a live broadcast and followed it up with an apology that some regarded as awkward and insincere. Billy Bean, MLB's Ambassador for Inclusion (and a former Major Leaguer), joins us to discuss the Brennaman incident and its aftermath, his own coming out story,[...]
There’s been a lot of speculation about whether the NFL’s embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement would impact television viewership. After the first week of play, some media outlets jumped on preliminary reports to argue that fan support was waning because of the league's support for social justice causes. But it turns out, the[...]
After a wild couple of games, the Chicago Bears are 2-0 with Mitch Trubisky at the helm. Many questioned whether or not the often erratic QB should still be the starter after the Bears acquired former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles in the offseason, but so far the team has managed to pull two vital[...]
The LA Clippers' historic playoff curse continues, as the team lost to the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Tuesday night. The Athletic's Sam Amick was in the arena, sitting about twenty feet from the Clippers' bench, and he joins us to share his observations on what went wrong for[...]
The WNBA Playoffs are underway, and the two top-seeded teams — the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm — are both powered by superstar players, with A’ja Wilson dominating the paint for Las Vegas, and Breanna Stewart’s all-around game at the center of everything for Seattle. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings to look at[...]
James Rodriguez was once the toast of the soccer world. The Colombian won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup, signed a massive deal with Real Madrid, and thrived for a year under manager Carlo Ancelotti. But, after the Italian coach was fired, James failed to see the field for much of the next[...]
The Lakers are headed to the Western Conference Finals — awaiting the winner of the Nuggets against the Clippers on Tuesday night — and recently, they’ve gotten a big lift from Rajon Rondo. The veteran point guard helped fuel the Lakers to a five-game victory over James Harden, Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets, and has arguably[...]
Lamar Jackson took the field on Sunday for the first time since the Ravens' shocking playoff exit last season, and the unanimous league MVP showed signs that he might have gotten even better. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec joins us to discuss how Lamar has rebounded, physically and mentally, from that tough loss, and why he[...]
The Las Vegas Golden Knights have been cruising through the playoffs with a somewhat unexpected goaltender: Robin Lehner, who has taken over for franchise netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. Lehner's current playoff tear is the latest in a remarkable journey for the talented Swede, who opened up about his struggles with addiction and mental health issues in[...]
The 2020 NFL season gets underway Thursday night with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Houston Texans, and that means the much-anticipated debut of former LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Today, The Athletic’s Nate Taylor joins us to discuss what Andy Reid and the Chiefs see in the rookie, why Patrick[...]
Two thirds of the way into baseball’s 60-game season, the New York Yankees have reached a critical juncture of their season, as they’re fighting to stay in the playoff chase, and facing off against one of the teams ahead of them in the standings: the Toronto Blue Jays. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Lindsey[...]
After months of questions, skepticism, and the NFL insisting it will start its season on time, the league is set to...start its season on time. The Athletic’s Robert Mays joins us to talk about how the NFL has navigated the treacherous waters of the pandemic, what will be unusual about this year's season on the[...]
Legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson passed away this week, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. He built the Hoya program from the ground up by recruiting local talent, often from neighborhoods where many people would never have considered attending Georgetown. The Athletic's David Aldridge covered Thompson and the Hoyas when he first became a sports[...]
On Tuesday, Jamal Murray helped the Nuggets finish off a remarkable comeback against the Utah Jazz, climbing back from a 3-1 deficit in the series to move on to the Western Conference Semifinals. With Game 1 against Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the Clippers coming up tonight, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Kendra Andrews to[...]
Last Week, Chicago White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito pulled off something no other pitcher has done in 2020 when he threw a no-hitter against the Pirates. Today, The Athletic’s James Fegan joins us to discuss Giolito’s early days as a baseball prodigy in Los Angeles, his rise and fall as a top prospect for the[...]
The Tampa Bay Lightning have eliminated the regular season's best team, the Boston Bruins, from the NHL playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. And, despite having a hefty amount of star power, the Lightning have been getting a major boost from role players. The Athletic’s Joe Smith explains how some of the team's[...]
Tonight, the Miami Heat take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and Miami has gotten a big lift so far from two veteran stars: Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic. Today, The Athletic’s Manny Navarro joins us to discuss the friendship that has formed between Butler and[...]
The Las Vegas Raiders raised some eyebrows with their first pick in this year's NFL draft, taking Henry Ruggs with the 12th pick, ahead of more high-profile wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb. The Athletic’s Tashan Reed spoke with Ruggs about his life and football career, and joins us to explain what drives him[...]
The Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court on Wednesday for their playoff game against the Orlando Magic as an act of protest against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Two more games were later canceled, and the Clippers and Lakers have reportedly voted in favor of ending the season. The Athletic's Michael[...]
The one award in all of sports that seemed like a lock this year was the WNBA's Rookie of the Year. But with rookie sensation Sabrina Ionescu out with an ankle injury, the door is now wide open. The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings joins us to talk about two first year players -- Crystal Dangerfield and[...]
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic put in a performance for the ages on Sunday. After injuring his ankle two days earlier, the 21-year-old wrapped up the ankle and put his team on his back, and won the game on a series of clutch shots in overtime. The Athletic's Tim Cato, who has closely chronicled Doncic's[...]
The San Diego Padres hit a staggering total of five grand slams last week, and one of them — from Fernando Tatis Jr. — sparked a controversy. Today, we’re joined by Doug Glanville — former big league outfielder and co-host of the Starkville podcast — to discuss whether Tatis was in the wrong for breaking[...]
Thomas Muller is one of the best soccer players in the world -- and also one of the strangest. The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein recently watched him play live in an empty stadium in London and noticed something that changed his understanding of the German star and his outsized influence on games. Raphael joins us to[...]
Tuesday night, Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers continued their remarkable run at Disney World, defeating LeBron James and the Lakers in their playoff opener. With Game 2 coming up tonight, The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson — who recently spoke to Lilllard — joins us to talk about the Portland point guard’s incredible performance, and how[...]
Despite being a Hart Trophy finalist, a former first overall pick, and the best player on one of the top teams in the NHL, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has remained a relatively unknown superstar. The Athletic's Ryan Clark joins us to talk about why that's the case, how MacKinnon has overcome challenges on his[...]
So far in the 2020 MLB season, very few players — if any — have been more electric than Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Today, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin joins us to explain why the 21-year-old is already drawing favorable comparisons to the best players in the game (including Mike Trout), and why he’s well-equipped to handle[...]
The NBA Playoffs get underway today at Disney World, and one of the favorites to win the whole thing — LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers — have not looked dominant in the bubble. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bill Oram to discuss the Lakers’ uneven play in Orlando, whether they’re ready to flip the switch[...]
Baltimore recently lost a sports icon. Mo Gaba first gained fame as a 9-year-old, when he began calling into a local sports talk radio show and entertaining listeners with his unique sense of humor and unforgettable voice. But then, as his lifelong battle with cancer became known to the public, his story took on a[...]
Last week, college football seemed to be moving full speed ahead, albeit with a limited schedule. But on Tuesday, the Big Ten and PAC-12 announced that they would not be playing football this fall after all. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbauch joins us to explain how this apparently sudden shift came about, and whether or not[...]
After entering the NBA bubble as one of the most intriguing teams to watch, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans are getting ready to head home, as they’ve officially been eliminated from the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Today, The Athletic’s Will Guillory joins us to look back on Zion's turbulent rookie year — a year filled with peaks[...]
Orlando City SC faces the Portland Timbers in tonight's MLS Is Back Final. And Orlando has made it deep into the tournament largely thanks to former Manchester United star Nani, who signed with the Florida team last year. Today, the Athletic’s Sam Stejskal joins us to discuss the Portuguese winger's remarkable career, his recent MLS[...]
Just over two weeks into the 2020 season, Major League Baseball has seen an alarming number of injuries to pitchers, including Justin Verlander, Mike Soroka and Shohei Ohtani, who was back on the mound for the first time in nearly two years after Tommy John surgery. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris to[...]
Thursday was the deadline for NFL players to opt out of the 2020 season, and a number of prominent names — including Dont’a Hightower of the Patriots and Damien Williams of the Chiefs — have decided not to play. The first player to opt out of the season was Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, an offensive lineman for[...]
With less than a month until the start of the college football season, more and more players are demanding better protections against COVID-19, scholarship guarantees, and, in some cases, money. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us to talk about how these unprecedented demands have come about, what impact they could have on the fall season,[...]
The Portland Trail Blazers are battling toward a playoff berth, and they’ve been doing it with a big boost from big man Jusuf Nurkic. After being out for more than a year with a gruesome leg injury, Nurkic is back and has been better than ever. The Athletic’s Jason Quick joins us to discuss Nurkic's[...]
Last week, when his team was up against the Astros, Dodgers right-hander Joe Kelly had a very noisy relief appearance, brushing back Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa before both benches cleared. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Andy McCullough to look at how this incident fits into the ongoing backlash against the Astros in the[...]
After more than four months away from competition, the NHL is back -- and the league has gone straight to the playoffs. The Athletic’s Michael Russo joins us to talk about some surprise results on opening weekend, a much-discussed moment during the national anthem, and what the key to success will be in this year’s[...]
At the peak of his career, Daniel Bard was a dominant relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Then, he suddenly and mysteriously lost the ability to throw strikes. Now, seven years and a remarkable journey later, he's back in the big leagues and throwing heat for the Colorado Rockies. The Athletic’s Nick Groke tells[...]
More than four and a half months after the season shut down, the NBA is finally back. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Wosny Lambre to look at some of the big story lines as the season resumes at Disney World, including Zion Williamson and the Pelicans fighting for a playoff berth, and LeBron James[...]
There’s a lot happening in the WNBA right now, both on and off the court. The Athletic's Chantel Jennings joins us to talk about the league’s relationship with the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as pushback it has received recently from a U.S. Senator and partial team owner. We also break down what's been[...]
More than a dozen members of the Miami Marlins have tested positive for COVID-19, and several MLB games have now been canceled as a result. The Athletic’s Andy McCullough joins us to talk about what the team outbreak could mean for the Marlins' season and the fate of Major League Baseball's 2020 campaign.More from Andy[...]
Last week, before his first game with the Dodgers, and prior to the start of MLB’s abbreviated 60-game season, Mookie Betts signed a massive extension to stay in Los Angeles — for 12 years and $365 million. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Pedro Moura to go inside the mind of Mookie Betts, and learn more[...]
Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, and Jennifer Garner are among a group of owners who are bringing a new professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles and the NWSL in 2022. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to talk about how the star-studded franchise came together and why it could signal a new direction for the[...]
Opening Day is here and the Toronto Blue Jays are still looking for a place to play. The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath joins us to talk about why both the Canadian government and the state of Pennsylvania have shut the door on the Blue Jays, what options are still on the table, and how all of[...]
Thursday is Opening Day in Major League Baseball, and in the weeks leading up to this abbreviated season, an unexpected star has emerged for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clubhouse attendant Francisco “Chico” Herrera got a chance to play the outfield for L.A. out of necessity during training camp, and responded by making some remarkable plays[...]
NBA teams have been holed up in Disney World for several weeks now, as they prepare to resume the season late next week. The Athletic’s Joe Vardon joins us from inside the NBA bubble, to talk about what life is like there (hint: waterslides and fishing poles are involved), what NBA players think of the so-called[...]
The Washington Post recently published a highly anticipated investigative report about the experiences of more than a dozen women working for and within the Washington NFL team. The report described sexual harassment and verbal abuse occurring throughout the organization and spanning more than a decade. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to discuss what the[...]
This spring, Alex Charlton — a football coach at Division II Midwestern State in Texas — made a bold decision. He left behind his coaching job to work as a nurse in Manhattan — in a COVID section of the emergency room — at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in New York. Today, The Athletic’s Chris[...]
Last week, Patrick Mahomes signed a ten-year contract extension to stay with the Kansas City Chiefs through the 2031 season. It’s reportedly the richest contract in sports history, worth upwards of $475 million. The Athletic’s Nate Taylor joins us to talk about how the deal came about, what challenges it creates for the Chiefs, and[...]
Major League Soccer returned to play last week, kicking off its MLS Is Back tournament. But things haven't exactly gone smoothly. The league's reigning MVP, Carlos Vela, elected not to play in the tournament, and two teams withdrew after multiple players tested positive for the coronavirus. The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio joins us to talk about[...]
On Monday, the Washington football team announced that it would be changing its team name and Native American logo, which many people find offensive. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Rhiannon Walker to talk about why the team and its owner, Dan Snyder, have resisted changing the name for so long and why they finally[...]
First, the Ivy League announced that it would not have any sports this fall. Then, the Big Ten and Pac-12 said they would only be playing in-conference games, if any. And now, the entire college football season seems to be teetering on the brink. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us to talk about the seismic[...]
The world's biggest soccer club has fallen on hard times. The league title seems to be slipping away, and ongoing mismanagement continues to create problems within the organization. The Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan joins us to talk about what’s going wrong at Barcelona, what superstar Lionel Messi has had to say about it, and why the[...]
This week, NBA teams started arriving at Disney World in Orlando as they prepare to restart the season. One team that has already arrived is the Utah Jazz, whose All-Star center Rudy Gobert was the first known NBA player to test positive for the coronavirus — and became embroiled in controversy when he intentionally touched reporters’[...]
Eight years ago, we saw one of the most dramatic free agent decisions in the history of the NFL, when Peyton Manning joined the Denver Broncos. The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala recently spoke to Manning about his wild fortnight of free agency, and discovered some fascinating details about the next-level secrecy from the people (including John[...]
After an outstanding freshman season at USC, hoops star Onyeku Okongwu is projected to go very early in this year’s NBA draft, which is now scheduled for October. The Athletic’s Seth Davis joins us to talk about how the young power forward went from relative obscurity to college star, how high he could go in[...]
A number of All-Star-caliber MLB players have decided not to take part in the 2020 season, including David Price, Felix Hernandez, Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond. Meanwhile, Mike Trout and Buster Posey are among the star players who are on the fence. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli to look at why some[...]
The NWSL became the first professional U.S. sports league to resume play this week, kicking off the Challenge Cup, a month-long knockout tournament, in Utah. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to discuss what happened in the opening matches, a much-talked-about moment during the national anthem, and whether or not anyone can stop the North[...]
As coronavirus cases skyrocket in Florida, Tom Brady has been defying league health recommendations and working out with his Tampa Bay Buccaneer teammates at a local high school -- and posting about it on social media. The Athletic’s Greg Auman joins us to talk about Brady’s controversial training sessions and why they have become a[...]
There was some historic news out of Mississippi yesterday, as governor Tate Reeves signed a bill removing the Confederate emblem from the state flag. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David Ubben to discuss the role that college sports played in the change, from SEC head coaches Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach to Mississippi State's[...]
Cam Newton is officially a member of the New England Patriots. And the Pats reportedly got the former NFL MVP at a bargain basement price.The Athletic’s Mike Sando joins us to talk about how the deal came about, what the Pats could look like with Cam at the helm, and what this signing tells us[...]
After months of bitter negotiations between MLB players and owners, an agreement was finally reached and the league is expected to begin a 60-game season in July. Doug Glanville, retired Major Leaguer and co-host of The Athletic's Starkville podcast, joins us to discuss the new rules that will be implemented during the abbreviated season, which[...]
Today, we’re replaying one of our favorite episodes of The Lead, which originally aired back in February. It’s a virtual tour of the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City. The Athletic’s Nate Taylor was our eyes and ears, and he joined us to relay stories about Jackie Robinson, the rock star status of many Negro[...]
Warning: This episode contains details about alleged sexual abuse and might be emotionally upsetting for some listeners. Today, we are replaying a story that first aired on our show back in March. It’s about a hockey coach with a long history of child sexual assault accusations. Since this story was first reported by The Athletic’s[...]
Earlier this month, Vince Carter announced his retirement from the NBA -- in the midst of the pandemic, and without getting to complete his final season. It was, as he put it, a weird way to end a career. The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner joined us back in March to discuss Vince Carter’s remarkable career, his[...]
Liverpool has absolutely dominated the current Premier League season, and is on the brink of winning its first league title in three decades. The man responsible for much of that success is talismanic head coach Jurgen Klopp. The Athletic’s James Pearce joined us back in January to talk about Klopp’s unique combination of passion, tactics,[...]
Last week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he "encourages" an NFL team to sign Colin Kaepernick. This came after Goodell had expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement and said players have the right to peacefully protest. Now, many fans are wondering if an NFL team might actually sign Kaepernick, who that team would[...]
Eight years ago this summer, Penn State took down the controversial statue of former coach Joe Paterno — a statue that took on huge symbolic meaning in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Today, The Athletic’s Audrey Snyder joins us to discuss why Penn State has gone to such great lengths to[...]
Over the past few months, Gio Reyna has burst onto the scene with Borussia Dortmund. The son of U.S. Men's National Team legend Claudio Reyna and former University of North Carolina star Danielle Egan, Gio is very much American soccer royalty. The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal joins us to discuss the meteoric rise of the 17[...]
Since the killing of George Floyd, NHL players have been speaking up about things that often aren’t talked about in hockey. The Athletic’s Ryan Clark, who covers the Colorado Avalanche, joins us to talk about how recent protests and the Black Lives Matter movement are shifting the conversation about race in the NHL, and involving[...]
Negotiations between MLB players and owners keep getting worse, and might now be past the point of no return. But last week, there was a heartwarming tale that emerged during the MLB draft. Today, as we await the fate of the 2020 season, we bring you the story of Ed Howard, one of the stars[...]
Just over a week ago, the NBA announced its plan for restarting the season at the end of July. But now, a group of players is trying to prevent that from happening. The Athletic’s Shams Charania joins us to talk about a Friday night phone call involving a large group of NBA players, including several superstars,[...]
Ten years ago this month, Armando Galarraga was one out away from a perfect game, when umpire Jim Joyce famously blew the call at first base. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen — who recently caught up with Galarraga, Joyce and former Tigers manager Jim Leyland — to hear their perspective on the missed[...]
On Wednesday, NASCAR issued a statement saying that the Confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties. The organization said that the flag's presence runs contrary to its commitment to "providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for our fans, our competitors, and our industry." The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi joins us to discuss[...]
Since the killing of George Floyd, many college football coaches have been having trouble finding the right words when it comes to sensitive topics like race and racism, and addressing problems in their programs. The Athletic’s Tashan Reed joins us to talk about what head coaches, from Dabo Swinney to Nick Saban, are saying and[...]
Last week, the basketball world lost a legend when Wes Unseld — the Hall of Famer who played for the Baltimore and Washington Bullets — died at the age of 74. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Fred Katz — who spoke with a number of Unseld’s teammates, including Phil Chenier and Bobby Dandridge — to look back[...]
On Friday, a day after an emotional video was released by a group of NFL superstars, Commissioner Roger Goodell made a dramatic statement on camera. He said that the league was wrong for not listening to NFL players' concerns about police brutality, and he encouraged players to speak out and peacefully protest. It was a[...]
Four years ago, Colin Kaepernick ignited a national debate that is once again in full swing in the wake of George Floyd's killing. But before Kaep took a knee during the national anthem, WNBA players were staging protests and aligning themselves with the Black Lives Matter movement. Today, The Athletic’s Gina Mizell joins us to[...]
Thursday is a big day for basketball fans, with the NBA’s Board of Governors set to vote on a proposed plan for the league to return to play. In other words, barring something unexpected, the NBA is coming back. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Shams Charania to discuss the details of the plan (22[...]
MLB players and owners are still at an impasse over how many games the 2020 season will have and how much players will be paid. Some fear that the two sides are so far apart in negotiations that the season is now in serious jeopardy. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark joins us to discuss what this[...]
As massive protests over the killing of George Floyd continue to erupt across the country, athletes have once again been at the center of an important national conversation. The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar joins us to talk about the athletes, coaches, and sports figures who are (and are not) speaking up, including everyone from Colin Kaepernick[...]
While pro sports in the U.S. remain on hold, overseas soccer leagues are picking up steam. After getting approval from the British government on Saturday, the Premier League is now officially scheduled to resume play on June 17th. The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to discuss what these games will look like, which teams could benefit[...]
Ten years ago today, Phillies ace Roy Halladay made baseball history by throwing just the second perfect game in team history and 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. The Athletic's Matt Gelb joins us to remember that remarkable performance, to talk about Halladay’s tragic death in a plane crash three years ago, and[...]
On Tuesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the regular season was officially over, and the league would go directly to a new playoff format when play resumes -- perhaps as early as late July or early August. The Athletic’s Craig Custance joins us to discuss this new, 24-team postseason format, which teams could benefit,[...]
Newcastle United is in the process of being purchased by a new ownership group, led by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. MBS, as he is known, is widely believed to have ordered the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, an incident that sparked international outrage. James Montague, an author and contributing[...]
At the start of Memorial Day weekend, the basketball world lost an icon when Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan died at the age of 78. Sloan coached the Utah Jazz for 23 years, leading them to 19 postseason appearances, and back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Today, we're joined by[...]
Warning: This episode contains graphic material related to sexual assault that may not be suitable for all audiences.Sarah Klein is one of the first known victims of former gymnastics team physician and serial sexual predator, Larry Nassar. As an adult, Sarah struggled with anxiety, depression, and a range of physical ailments. Then, Sarah connected with[...]
After winning a championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, Dennis Rodman closed out his NBA career two years later with the Dallas Mavericks, a team that had been the laughing stock of the league for quite some time. It was a short, strange period during which Rodman lived in new team owner Mark Cuban's[...]
There’s a race going on to bring back pro sports, and the state of Florida is in the lead. The Sunshine State declared sports to be an essential service earlier this year, and is now recruiting leagues and teams far and wide. The Athletic’s Chris Perkins joins us from Miami to talk about who is[...]
Major League Baseball players have had some extra time on their hands recently. And, it turns out, they've gotten into some pretty interesting activities. The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli fills us in on how a few different MLB players have been spending their time, in ways that are surprising, inspiring, and colorful.Read Britt Ghiroli and Eno[...]
On Sunday night, after 10 hours of sports TV nostalgia, The Last Dance — the documentary series about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls — reached its conclusion. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David Aldridge — who was featured throughout the series — to look at what set Jordan apart from other all-time greats, and to[...]
The Bundesliga became the first major sports league to return to play this weekend. Lucky for soccer fans, it has also been arguably the most exciting league in Europe this season. The Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein joins us to explain how a well-organized pandemic response helped Germany become the first European nation to bring back major[...]
At the start of the NFL offseason, the Houston Texans made a stunning trade, sending All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for a return headlined by running back David Johnson. The man behind that decision, and all of Houston's moves, is their coach and general manager, Bill O'Brien. Today, we're joined by[...]
Major League Baseball owners have a proposal for the 2020 baseball season that includes empty stadiums, regional competition, and more teams making the playoffs. But it hasn't exactly been welcomed with open arms by the players. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark joins us to talk about what exactly this shortened season would look like, how a[...]
The NCAA recently accepted new recommendations involving college athletes' NIL (name, image and likeness) rights. That means some athletes will soon be making significant money for things that have long been banned, including promoting products on social media. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us talk about what exactly will and won’t be allowed, when college athletes[...]
Last week, the NBA took a tiny step toward returning to play, as some teams opened the doors to their practice facilities and began allowing individual player workouts. Today, the Athletic’s Sam Amick joins us to talk about how the NBA is slowly but surely trying to resume the season, where and how a completion[...]
Last night on The Last Dance, we got the chance to re-live Michael Jordan’s time as a minor league baseball player, for the Double-A Birmingham Barons, in 1994. Today, we’re joined by James Fegan — who covers the White Sox for The Athletic — to hear some behind the scenes stories from Jordan’s time in Birmingham, including[...]
UFC 249 is going down on Saturday in Florida, a state where stay-at-home restrictions have been eased and sports like professional wrestling and MMA have been deemed essential. The Athletic’s Shaheen Al-Shatti joins us to discuss how this fight came to be, the extreme measures being taken to ensure that the fighters do not contract[...]
The Athletic has named Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne as its Premier League player of the year. Before the season was suspended, the Belgian star was closing in on Thierry Henry's record for assists in a season and had been directly involved in more goals than any other player. The Athletic’s Sam Lee joins us[...]
After the notorious "helmet hit" against Myles Rudolph last November and an ESPN interview gone awry a few months later, Myles Garrett took off for a while. Specifically, he went to Tanzania to spend time with a water charity that he has worked with for quite some time. The Athletic's Tom Reed went to the[...]
Professional baseball is back! In South Korea, that is. The Korea Baseball Organization kicked off its season on Tuesday a little differently: empty stadiums and officials, coaches and players wearing masks and gloves. It's a completely different atmosphere for a league that's used to raucous crowds, dramatic bat flips and full-throated sing-alongs. South Korea was[...]
Last night on The Last Dance, ESPN’s documentary series about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, we heard the origin story of the Air Jordan, and its impact on everyone from Nas to Justin Timberlake. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Wosny Lambre, who doubles as a reporter and a sneaker head, to discuss the[...]
Draymond Green has been sounding off on his former teammate, Kevin Durant, lately. Green has talked about a dustup between the two, and how Durant’s contract situation and general behavior affected the team. The Athletic’s Ethan Strauss has followed the Warriors up close for years and has a new book about the team called The[...]
The Green Bay Packers shocked the football world when they selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of this year's draft. The pick was immediately compared to 2005, when the Packers selected Aaron Rodgers in the first round while Hall of Famer Brett Favre was still the undisputed leader of the team.[...]
Earlier this month, the top high school basketball prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, Jalen Green, decided he would skip college and sign with a new program operated by the NBA's G League. The new initiative is the NBA's first academy-style operation within the league, and the goal is to keep homegrown talent in the[...]
Last week, Major League Baseball handed down its punishment to the Red Sox for using video replay to steal signs. Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic broke the news about the Red Sox back in January. Today, Ken joins us to discuss the details of the punishment, the replay operator who ended up[...]
Last night on The Last Dance, we heard more amazing stories about Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Dennis Rodman and the legendary 1997-98 Chicago Bulls. Today, we’re joined by Joe Vardon of The Athletic, who collected untold stories from former NBA players about their first encounters with Jordan, including unexpected tales from Dwyane Wade, Dominique Wilkins[...]
The first round of the (virtual) NFL Draft went much more smoothly than many people expected. There were no major technical glitches during the four-hour event, which included NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell receiving pre-recorded boos in his basement and a rare look into the homes of NFL head coaches and GMs. The Athletic’s Mike Sando[...]
One of the most talked-about players leading up to the NFL Draft — which starts tonight — is Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Once considered a lock to be the No. 1 pick, he’s been slowed by a number of injuries, most notably a dislocated hip, leaving many franchises to ask if the left-hander is worth the[...]
Rob Gronkowski is hanging up the wrestling belt and picking up his cleats to reunite with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. The Athletic’s Greg Auman joins us to discuss how this reunion came about at breakneck speed, what it means for the Bucs chances in the playoffs, and whether Gronk will help Brady prove that he[...]
With pro days being canceled, players on the cusp of getting drafted into the NFL are having to get creative as they try to get on the radar of teams. The Athletic’s Stephen Holder joins us to discuss how college players who are on the bubble have been scrambling to get noticed, by doing everything[...]
The NFL Draft is usually a spectacle, but this year will be different. Teams will make selections remotely, top prospects will be at home instead of walking across the stage and Commissioner Roger Goodell is running the whole thing from his basement. Despite all of that, this year's draft class is stacked with a few[...]
Steph Curry is considered by some to be the best shooter in the history of basketball. Now, a new documentary film (on which Curry is credited as an executive producer) tells the story of Kenny Sailors, the man who invented the skill that Curry has since perfected -- the jump shot. Filmmaker Jacob Hamilton joins[...]
Wednesday would have been the final day of the NBA regular season. With that in mind — and because we are all missing basketball — we’re looking back at one of the most amazing regular season performances of all time. That would be Russell Westbrook’s iconic 50-point triple-double to break Oscar Robertson’s single-season record in 2017, and[...]
One of the cities hit hardest by the coronavirus right now is New Orleans, where the number of confirmed cases is among the highest in the country. The city has faced daunting circumstances before, particularly during Hurricane Katrina. And its most celebrated sports team, the Saints, played a big role in the city’s recovery from[...]
From NBA players playing HORSE to baseball announcers calling MLB The Show video games, it seems just about anything can make it onto the airwaves and pass for sports these days. The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi joins us to break down two recent broadcasts -- an iRacing event featuring real-life NASCAR drivers, and the recent NBA[...]
The XFL officially called it quits on Friday, suspending operations and laying off all of its employees, except for a handful of executives. Vince McMahon's quirky league, which included a bunch of unusual rules, surprised a lot of people with its relative success over the past few months and in some ways seemed ready for[...]
Actor Hank Azaria is perhaps best known for his work voicing multiple classic characters on The Simpsons, but he's also the star of the hit show Brockmire. Azaria plays the title character, Jim Brockmire, a washed-up baseball announcer with alcohol problems and a sharp wit. Today we're joined by Azaria, a big baseball fan himself,[...]
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal joins us to discuss a radical new plan from Major League Baseball, which would see the league returning to play as early as May. The plan, which reportedly has the support of high-ranking federal public health officials, would involve empty stadiums, players sitting six feet apart in the stands, and no[...]
Football and men's basketball are the main financial drivers of college sports. With March Madness having been canceled, many athletic departments are now more dependent than ever on a successful college football season. But will there be one? The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us to talk about how colleges are (and are not) preparing for[...]
Before coronavirus brought sports to a halt, Liverpool was having a historically great Premier League season and was about to clinch its first top flight title in three decades. The Athletic's David Ornstein joins us to explain how the EPL is now desperately trying to find a way to finish the season, why some owners[...]
Many people only know Dick Vitale through his happy-go-lucky, extremely energetic and at times almost cartoonish on-air persona. Today, on what would have been the day of the men's college basketball national title game, Seth Davis of The Athletic joins us to talk about the iconic broadcaster's remarkable career — and some of the very human[...]
Just about every professional sports league has come to a grinding halt in recent weeks, with one notable exception: the NFL. As other leagues have shut down because of COVID-19, the NFL has allowed new player signings, plans to hold the NFL draft as planned in late April, and has said that its season will[...]
Normally, this weekend would have been the Final Four of the women’s NCAA tournament, and potentially a big sendoff for the best player in college basketball, Sabrina Ionescu. Instead, Oregon’s superstar now turns her focus to the WNBA Draft, where she will almost certainly be the number one pick. Today, we’re joined by Seth Davis of[...]
After months of speculation, the Carolina Panthers released longtime quarterback Cam Newton on March 24. While the move was expected by some, it still came as a shock to fans and the football world. And the whole separation itself was rather messy. After the Panthers announced they would allow Newton to seek a trade, Cam[...]
Just before the coronavirus put a halt to every sport seemingly overnight, there were some big developments in the WNBA. The union signed a new contract with the league, players started making more money and some big trades generated a lot of excitement. But it could be argued that none of this would have been[...]
Steph Curry interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci about COVID-19 live on Instagram last week. Joel Embiid has pledged half a million dollars to help laid off arena workers. Karl-Anthony Towns recently opened up about his mother being in a medically-induced coma because of the coronavirus. In short, pro athletes are doing a lot to help in[...]
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, some big college basketball news flew under the radar last week, with Hall of Famer Rick Pitino returning to the NCAA to coach Iona after nearly three years out of the college game. Today, we speak with The Athletic's Seth Davis about Pitino's rise to prominence with Providence[...]
With the Tokyo Olympics now officially postponed, 5-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Nathan Adrian joins us to talk about what the uncertainty of the past few weeks has been like, how he and his fellow Olympic athletes will now be adjusting their lives to meet this new timetable, and how the threat of postponement impacted[...]
Earlier this month, U.S. Soccer made a legal argument that many people found deeply offensive, and that led to the resignation of the organization’s president. As part of an ongoing lawsuit over equal pay, U.S. Soccer essentially argued that men deserve to be paid more money than women because they are biologically superior and play[...]
(Note: A few hours after we published this episode, Japan and the IOC announced that the Olympics will, in fact, be postponed until 2021.)Yesterday, a member of the International Olympic Committee told a reporter that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed until next year. This came a day after the IOC announced that it[...]
Last week, Italy surpassed China as the country with the most deaths from COVID-19. Italy also happens to be a country where a number of WNBA players go in the offseason to supplement their income. The Athletic’s Alexis Mansanarez joins us to tell the story of an American player who was quarantined in Italy and[...]
With the NBA season cut short because of the coronavirus, 43-year-old Vince Carter -- the only NBA player to play in four different decades -- might have played his final game much earlier than expected. The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner joins us to look back at Carter’s high-flying career, to unpack his complicated relationship with the[...]
There's a lot of uncertainty in baseball right now, just like every other facet of our lives. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark joins us to talk about how Major League Baseball has handled the situation with COVID-19 so far, what a delayed start could mean for the long-term relationship between players and MLB, and how the[...]
One of the NFL’s biggest offseason questions was finally answered on Tuesday: Tom Brady is leaving New England and heading to Tampa Bay. The Athletic’s Steve Buckley joins us to talk about Brady’s unprecedented run of success with the Pats, his relationship with head coach Bill Belichick, and how New England fans should be dealing[...]
Major League Baseball announced Monday it would postpone opening day until at least mid-May. Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement after the CDC on Sunday recommended gatherings of 50 people or more be canceled nationwide. According to some reports, GM's are bracing for the possibility that the season won't start until July. Even though MLB is[...]
Today was supposed to be Bracket Monday. But coronavirus has shut down sports across the country and upended our lives. So, on the day when everyone would normally be filling out March Madness brackets, we are instead looking back on the 2019-2020 men’s college basketball season. The Athletic’s Seth Davis joins us to talk about[...]
Following the NBA's lead, MLB, the NHL and MLS all suspended or delayed their respective seasons because of coronavirus. And, in a shocking move, the NCAA canceled the men's and women's basketball tournaments. The sports world is effectively canceled for the time being. For the NBA, things could get worse before they get better. The[...]
The NBA has suspended all games until further notice after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. We recap how one of the most historic days in sports history unfolded at breakneck speed, and are joined by The Athletic's Joe Vardon to discuss how the NBA abruptly changed its position after Gobert[...]
As the coronavirus continues to spread, more and more sporting events are being canceled or postponed. There is now a possibility that NCAA Tournament games could be played without fans. But it turns out, this has happened before. The Athletic's Dana O'Neil joins us to discuss a 1989 measles outbreak that caused conference tourney games[...]
Steph Curry recently returned to the Golden State Warriors' lineup after missing most of the season with a broken hand. But during his absence, his brother Seth emerged as a key member of the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks. The Athletic’s Tim Cato, joins us to talk about Seth Curry’s gradual rise from un-drafted free agent to[...]
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers went on a local radio show on Friday to talk about his frustrations with the NFL. In a rather remarkable series of comments, he also sounded off on his fellow players, who he said don’t care enough about the new collective bargaining agreement that players are negotiating with the[...]
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is on a mission to win over more fans in a city that is synonymous with the Lakers. And the franchise has doubled down on those efforts lately, through everything from a slick marketing campaign to building and renovating hundreds of basketball courts around the city of Los Angeles. With the[...]
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of alleged sexual abuse and sexual trauma and the content might be emotionally upsetting for some listeners.In the second part of a special investigation, a former player of junior and college hockey coach Thomas "Chico" Adrahtas joins us to tell his story. Brent Cary played for Adrahtas as a[...]
Content Warning: This episode contains details about alleged sexual abuse and sexual trauma and might be emotionally upsetting for some listeners.Multiple former hockey players have accused a former University of Minnesota and Robert Morris University Illinois hockey coach of sexual abuse. They say the coach, Thomas “Chico” Adrahtas, tricked them into having sexual encounters with[...]
Last week, Maria Sharapova announced her retirement. She won five grand slams during her 19-year career — including a signature win over Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2004 — but also leaves behind a complicated legacy. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare to discuss Sharapova’s reputation as a ruthless competitor, the fallout from[...]
When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away Russell Westbrook and Paul George, the basketball world more or less left them for dead. A lot of people also thought there was no way Chris Paul — sent to OKC in the Westbrook trade — would ever stay. But the Thunder are well on their way to a playoff[...]
The NFL combine has gotten a little out of control lately, with people obsessing over the size of Joe Burrow’s hands, broadcasters raving about how fast 300-pound linemen can run the 40-yard dash, and a punter bench pressing 225 pounds more than two dozen times before a raucous crowd. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us[...]
The Negro Leagues celebrated a 100th anniversary earlier this month. And as part of our Black History Month coverage, we decided to send The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, a Kansas City native, to check out the iconic Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Today, Nate takes us back in time (and on a virtual tour)[...]
Earlier this month there was a big trade in the WNBA. The Phoenix Mercury acquired Skylar Diggins-Smith and the star guard is now united with two all-time greats: Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. A lot of people say this is the first time one WNBA team has had three true stars. The Athletic’s Alexis Mansanarez[...]
The Houston Rockets are making a big bet on small ball. By trading away their only proven big man three weeks ago, they committed to playing one of the smallest lineups the NBA has seen in recent years. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko joins us to talk about Houston’s grand experiment, whether or not it could[...]
NASCAR has deep roots in the American South. It has also had its share of racial tension. As part of our Black History Month coverage, we’re joined by David Aldridge of The Athletic to talk about black NASCAR drivers from the past and present, what the organization is doing to make its future more diverse,[...]
The Baylor men's basketball team has been one of the best teams in the country all year, and much of the success can be attributed to head coach Scott Drew. The Athletic’s CJ Moore joins us to talk about how Drew rebuilt the program after the tragic murder of a player 17 years ago, how[...]
Saturday night is one of the most anticipated heavyweight rematches in a long time. Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder square off in Las Vegas. The stakes are particularly high for Deontay Wilder who is considered by many to be the next great American heavyweight. The Athletic’s Lance Pugmire joins us to talk about how Wilder has[...]
The long-suffering New York Knicks are turning to an unlikely savior: NBA agent Leon Rose is expected to take over as team president. The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov joins us to talk about how the Knicks landed on Rose, whether or not he'll actually be able to turn things around, and why more and more teams[...]
Things are bad for the Houston Astros. Players from around the league have been going on camera over the past few days to criticize Astros players and owner Jim Crane for not fully owning up to their role in the sign stealing controversy. Commissioner Rob Manfred has also come under fire for his botched handling[...]
Manchester City has been banned from the Champion’s League, Europe’s most prestigious and lucrative club tournament, after an investigation found that the team lied on important financial documents. The future of one of the world's biggest and richest clubs is now very much in question. The Athletic’s Sam Lee joins us to break down the[...]
The NBA All-Star Game is this weekend and there are expected to be many tributes to the late Kobe Byrant. Kobe is, of course, a king in Los Angeles, but his relationship with his hometown, Philadelphia, was complicated. The Athletic’s Michael Lee, who covers the NBA and lives in Philadelphia, joins us to talk about[...]
The U.S. Women’s National Team qualified for the Olympics this past weekend and leading the way, once again, was Rose Lavelle. The talented young midfielder also turned heads at the World Cup last year, capturing the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third best player. The Athletic’s Megan Linehan joins us to talk about Lavelle’s rapid[...]
It's been a heck of a week for the Boston Red Sox. The team agreed to send their best player, Mookie Betts, to the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade, along with former Cy Young Award winner David Price in a three-team deal. But the trade almost fell apart in spectacular fashion. The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey[...]
The Rooney Rule requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate when hiring a head coach or senior executive. But there are currently just three black head coaches in the league and the most recent round of hiring saw only one minority candidate get hired for five open positions. The Athletic's Mike Sando[...]
On Friday, there was yet another development in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal. The Wall Street Journal reports that the team used a powerful algorithm called "Codebreaker" to figure out their opponent's signs. How much did the sign-stealing scheme help the Astros on the field? The Athletic's Jayson Stark and Eno Sarris recently ran the[...]
If you go back to the very FIRST season of the NFL -- a hundred years ago -- there were just a handful of black players. And one of them was Duke Slater. Slater was the first black lineman to suit up for the NFL. He was known for being unstoppable. And now, he will[...]
There was a time when Portland belonged to Brandon Roy. The former Trail Blazer's career was cut short by knee trouble and he has been more or less invisible ever since. But after years of trying, The Athletic’s Jason Quick finally tracked him down. Today, Quick joins us to talk about Brandon Roy’s short but remarkable[...]
The Houston Astros hired Dusty Baker to take over in the dugout just weeks after firing manager AJ Hinch in the aftermath of the team's sign stealing scandal. At 70 years old, Baker is the oldest manager in baseball, but with that comes a wealth of experience and stability the Astros desperately need. Baker is[...]
Connor McDavid has been shredding defenses since he entered the league five seasons ago. But there are signs that the NHL's most talented player has grown frustrated with his team’s lack of success. The Athletic's Jonathan Willis joins us to talk about McDavid's incredible skills, his secretive recovery from a devastating injury, and whether or[...]
The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions. It was another impressive comeback for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who trailed 20-10 in the fourth quarter before rattling off 21 unanswered points. Kavitha breaks down the game for us from Miami, discusses what it means for the legacies of Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, Jimmy Garoppolo[...]
Football stars, celebrities, and fans have descended upon Miami for the greatest side-show on Earth. Kavitha wades into the madness of Radio Row to speak with former Super Bowl winner turned spiritual guru Martellus Bennett, Giants running back Saquon Barkley, omnipresent fan "Marlins Man," former NBA journeyman Stephen Jackson, and a host of other characters.[...]
Tyreek Hill has a history of domestic violence charges that many people find disturbing. The wide receiver has been an integral part of the Chiefs' offense all season long and is expected to play a major role in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but some people have trouble rooting for the team when he's on[...]
Superstar QB Patrick Mahomes and veteran head coach Andy Reid complete each other's sentences in team meetings. Chiefs fans are on their way to the Super Bowl after 50 years of suffering. And defensive tackle Mike Pennel broke down sobbing after Kansas City's victory over the Tennessee Titans, knowing he'd be playing for his hometown[...]
One year ago, Raheem Mostert and the San Francisco 49ers were 4-12 and Kyle Shanahan was coaching at the Senior Bowl. Now, they're one win away from being crowned Super Bowl champions. The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami joins us to talk about how the 49ers have pulled off this remarkable turnaround, the players who have been[...]
The tributes to Kobe Bryant and other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash continue. A number of NBA players who were close to Kobe, including Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving, have missed games . NBA teams have continued to let the 24-second shot clock run out during games to honor the former #24. The Athletic’s Andy and[...]
After Kobe's tragic death from a helicopter crash on Sunday, we walk through the latest news on the accident and ongoing investigation. Plus, we look at how people across the country have expressed their love and support for the late superstar and his family. And we travel to Staples Center, where thousands of people gathered[...]
New reporting from The Athletic has revealed problems inside the Clippers locker room. Kawhi Leonard has been red hot on the court, but his aloofness and unusual leadership style has created some friction within the team. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha joins us to talk about how the Clippers have been struggling to adapt to life[...]
Zion Williamson made a splash in his debut last night. But his fellow rookie, Ja Morant, has been dominating defenses all season and creating an incredible highlight reel along the way. Today, The Athletic’s Omari Sankofa II joins us to talk about Ja’s impressive rookie year, why he has a chip on his shoulder, and[...]
In perhaps the most anticipated NBA debut ever, New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson finally takes the floor tonight. Williamson had surgery in October for a torn meniscus and was slated to miss somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks. It's now been 14 weeks since the team announced he would be sidelined. So what can[...]
The WNBA signed a monumental collective bargaining agreement with the players union last week. The maximum player salary was nearly doubled, the league minimum was increased by 35 percent, and elite players could now see their total income more than triple. The deal also includes new allowances for travel and maternity leave. The Athletic’s Lyndsey[...]
After convincing wins yesterday, the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs have advanced to Super Bowl 54. The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia joins us to break down the two Championship games, to discuss what went right for the winners, and to talk about what to expect on February 2nd in Miami. Oh, and we also[...]
The Titans came into the playoffs as a long-shot Wild Card team. But after knocking off the Patriots and Ravens, Derrick Henry and Tennessee are the talk of the postseason. And in a league where passing is king, they’re winning with an old-school brand of smashmouth football. The Athletic's Joe Rexrode joins us to talk[...]
Liverpool have been absolutely unstoppable this season. They now have a fourteen point lead over second-place Manchester City and are on pace to win their first league title in thirty years (among other historic accomplishments). Much of Liverpool’s success has been attributed to head coach Jurgen Klopp. The Athletic’s James Pearce joins us to talk[...]
Major League Baseball levied unprecedented penalties against the Houston Astro for electronically stealing signs in 2017, through the team's World Series run and into the 2018 season. Citing reporting from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in a statement that Astros Manager AJ Hinch and General Manager Jeff Lunhow would[...]
Now that LSU has been crowned college football champions, it's time to look forward to the NFL draft. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is the consensus pick at #1 to the Bengals, but after that, anything can happen. As we enter the college football offseason, the combine and then the draft, there will be plenty of[...]
After losing to the Titans on Saturday, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are out of the playoffs. That has sparked a debate around the team, its young star quarterback, and his ability to show up in big games. The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia joins us to break down the Ravens' loss to the Titans and to[...]
Clemson is about to play in its fourth CFP National Championship game in five years. But, historically, the Tigers have not been a top program. And in many ways, the deck is stacked against them. The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel joins us to talk about how Clemson has overcome the odds to become a dynasty-in-the-making --[...]
Last week, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin made a controversial hiring decision: he brought in D.J. Durkin, who was fired by Maryland in 2018 after an offensive lineman died following a preseason workout. An internal investigation then revealed disturbing behaviors within the Maryland football program. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us to discuss that[...]
An exclusive report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich reveals that the Boston Red Sox used video replay rooms to steal pitchers signs during the 2018 season, the year the team last won the World Series. Three people who were with the organization in 2018 told The Athletic that players would visit the[...]
The Lakers have the best record in the Western Conference and the second best record in the NBA. But LeBron just turned 35 years old, spent most of last season injured, and hasn't been rested much this season. The Athletic's Andy and Brian Kamenetzky join us to discuss the Lakers' impressive start, how they've been[...]
The New England Patriots are out of the playoffs after a 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans. As they enter the post-season, there are a number of questions facing the organization -- the biggest being the future of #12. The Athletic’s Steve Buckley joins us to discuss this new era for Pats fans and whether[...]
The Lead is featuring some of the episodes from its first year about how sports changed in 2019 or signaled a major trend that’s shaking up a particular league or sport.Yes, the World Champion Astro’s Cheated. An investigation by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich revealed that the Houston Astros used a high-powered camera[...]
In the wake of former NBA commissioner David Stern's death, we speak with The Athletic's David Aldridge about how Stern took a league that was at a crossroads in the early 1980s and helped transform it into the hugely successful, global enterprise that it is today.Read David Aldridge's story about David Stern's legacy:https://theathletic.com/1502570/2020/01/01/he-made-the-lamps-rattle-remembering-david-stern-in-all-his-momentous-bluster/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy[...]
The Ravens ended the regular season with a 14-2 record, clinching home field advantage throughout the playoffs. And much of it was thanks to Lamar Jackson, their star dual-threat quarterback. He‘s lit up the NFL all season, and broke Michael Vick's single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He’s seen by many as the[...]
Over the holidays The Lead is featuring episodes from its first year about how sports changed in 2019 or signaled a major trend that’s shaking up a particular league or sport.Women’s Soccer is here to stay. The North Carolina Courage defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-0 in the final of the NWSL on October 27,[...]
Over the holidays The Lead is featuring episodes from its first year about how sports changed in 2019 or signaled a major trend that’s shaking up a particular league or sport.Paul George and Anthony Davis did something this off-season that rattled the NBA to its very core — they forced their teams to trade them,[...]
Over the holidays The Lead is featuring episodes from its first year about how sports changed in 2019 or signaled a major trend that’s shaking up a particular league or sport.There’s a new youth movement this season in the NHL. The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the best young teams in professional hockey. The[...]
Nine years ago, Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard and his wife Kristen Ballard received an unexpected phone call. It challenged them in a way they never could have imagined, and caused their family to grow in size. Warning: This is a heartwarming tale of humanity, just in time for the holidays.Read Zak Keefer's story about[...]
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray entered the NFL surrounded by hype, but along with the fanfare came a lot of doubt. The football world at large didn't think a quarterback of his stature could thrive in the NFL, but so far he's proving the doubters wrong. The Athletic's Lindsay Jones joins us to talk about[...]
The FBI recently charged 10 former NFL players, including Clinton Portis, with defrauding a health care program meant to benefit retired players and their families. The indictment cites more than 3 million dollars in fraudulent claims for medical equipment, including a device normally used on horses. The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan joins us to break down[...]
The once untouchable Warriors are now the worst team in the NBA, with a 5-23 record. And the last man standing from the dynasty years, at least for now, is the notoriously intense Draymond Green. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater sat down with Draymond to talk about how he’s dealing with all this losing, how he's[...]
After a 2-year-old was hit in the head by a foul ball back in May during a Cubs-Astros game, pressure began mounting on Major League Baseball to make stadiums safer for fans. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, who was at that game, joins us to talk about the incident, last week's announcement that MLB teams will[...]
The Heisman Trophy Award ceremony is Saturday, and LSU's Joe Burrow is virtually certain to win. The Athletic's Jon Greenberg went to Burrow's hometown of Athens, Ohio and interviewed his family, friends, and former coaches to learn about the star QB's past and to see how people there have been following his success. Read Jon[...]
Longtime Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon are reportedly selling the team to billionaire hedge fund manager (and minority owner) Steve Cohen. Mets fans have long had a contentious relationship with the Wilpons, often criticizing them for mismanagement and not spending as much on free agents as their cross-town rivals the Yankees. The Athletic's Tim[...]
The Bengals have accused the Patriots of filming their sideline ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the two teams. Meanwhile, the Patriots say the hired cameraman was just shooting B-roll of a team scout for a documentary film. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to break down the accusations, the Patriots’ history of spying, and what[...]
David Fizdale became the latest in a long line of head coaches to be fired by the New York Knicks on Friday. After missing out on the number one draft pick and free agent targets Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this summer, the Knicks began the season with a sense of disappointment -- and then[...]
The Ravens rattled off their ninth straight win on Sunday, defeating the Bills 24-17 and moving to first overall in the AFC. In the process, Lamar Jackson became just the second quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and the 22-year-old is seen by many as the leading candidate for[...]
Andy Ruiz Jr. shocked the world in June by knocking out heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden. Joshua is 6'6" and sculpted, with endorsement deals from Hugo Boss and Beats (among others), and the Brit was considered by many to be the next great heavyweight. Meanwhile, Ruiz was a relatively unknown Mexican-American with[...]
The Pistons-Pacers brawl known as “Malice at the Palace” rocked the NBA fifteen years ago. Many people saw it as a low point for the league. The melee, which included flying beer bottles and fans getting punched in the face, forced the league to implement new rules in an attempt to recreate its image. With[...]
A massive, state-sponsored doping program was unearthed in Russia several years ago, leading to the country being banned from the 2018 Olympics. Last week, it was reported that Russia had violated the terms of its new oversight, by submitting bogus data to the World Anti-Doping Agency. There is now the possibility that Russia will be[...]
Luka Doncic is one of the hottest players in the NBA right now, and the hype around the 20-year-old Slovenian is reaching a fever pitch. Some are now comparing him to LeBron, and he even got some high praise from King James on the court earlier this season. The Athletic’s Tim Cato traveled to Slovenia[...]
Weeks after their vicious late-game brawl, the Steelers got revenge against the Browns thanks in part to an unlikely hero: rookie quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges, who also happens to be, that's right, a champion duck caller. The Athletic’s Sean Gentille joins us to talk about Hodges's rapid ascent to the spotlight and the Steelers prospects[...]
Joel Embiid and Hakeem Olajuwon have never met, but the 76ers star idolized 'The Dream' when he was growing up in Cameroon and taught himself Olajuwon's moves by watching a DVD of his highlights on repeat. The Athletic's Michael Lee recently sat down with both superstars to talk about their careers, their journeys from West[...]
Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and hauled in 8 rebounds last night in an emphatic win over the Bulls. After more than a year away from the NBA, the aging superstar signed with the Trailblazers last Tuesday amid much fanfare. Considered one of the best players of his generation, Melo has earned a reputation for[...]
After two concussions last month (and five in his career), wide receiver Brandin Cooks is back in the lineup for the Rams on Monday Night Football. But The Athletic's Rich Hammond wonders, should he be? Rich joins us to discuss how, with the help of an outside neurologist and his wife, Cooks made the decision[...]
Christian Pulisic has scored five goals in his past three Premier League games for Chelsea, including a hat trick last month against Burnley. There has been a lot of buzz around Pulisic since he became Chelsea’s third most expensive signing in January, and questions about how good the 21-year-old American really is. The Athletic's Liam[...]
Cocaine and molly have become the drugs of choice in the NHL in recent years, according to a new report from The Athletic's Katie Strang. She joins us to explain why these particular drugs have become popular among hockey players and what the league is and isn't doing to combat substance abuse. We also hear[...]
Rising hoops star RJ Hampton made a bold decision earlier this year. He turned down scholarship offers from top schools and moved to New Zealand to play in the NBL, the pro league in Australia and New Zealand, to help him prepare for the NBA. The Athletic’s Dana O’Neill traveled to Auckland to find out[...]
Saints linebacker Demario Davis believes in a hands-on approach to social activism. The New Orleans star has handed out water in Flint, fought for bail reform in New York, and traveled to both sides of U.S.-Mexico border to give out blankets and backpacks. And, earlier this year, he helped bail out an ICE detainee. The[...]
After the NFL invited Colin Kaepernick to a private workout last week, there were disagreements about how it should be conducted. On Saturday, Kaepernick turned the tables at the last minute by canceling the NFL event and announcing a workout on his own terms. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue was there and she joins us to[...]
Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo has some serious pipes. The two-time NBA All-Star sings in the locker room, sings on the court, and has won the NBA Talent Challenge the past two years. Many people also believe Oladipo is a contestant on one of the hottest -- and strangest -- shows on television: The Masked[...]
Hockey commentator Don Cherry, a Canadian icon, was fired this week over comments he made about immigrants during a television broadcast. Cherry, whose "Coach's Corner" segment has been a staple of Hockey Night In Canada for more than three decades, has a long history of making inflammatory remarks. The Athletic's Sunaya Sapurji joins to explain[...]
A new investigation by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich has revealed that the Houston Astros used a high-powered camera to steal other teams' pitching signs during the 2017 season, the year they won the World Series. Major League Baseball is now investigating the matter to determine who within the organization knew about the[...]
The Clippers recently angered many NBA fans by resting Kawhi Leonard during a nationally televised game. But could this strategy be the key to winning an NBA title? We speak with The Athletic's Eric Koreen about how "load management" played out during Leonard’s championship run in Toronto last year, the impact his actions have had[...]
LSU plays Alabama on Saturday in the most highly anticipated college football match of the season. The teams also met back in 2011 in the first "Game of the Century,” with LSU prevailing 9-6. The Athletic's Stewart Mandel joins us to talk about how both teams have transformed their offenses since then, despite some initial[...]
Exclusive reporting from The Athletic has revealed that the NFL broached the possibility of London as a new home for the Los Angeles Chargers. And while it might seem absurd that the Chargers could head overseas after such a short time in L.A., The Athletic’s Vincent Bonsignore says it actually makes a lot of sense[...]
Trent Williams recently revealed that a growth he had removed from his head during the offseason was cancerous. The Pro Bowl tackle also claimed that Redskins team doctors had initially told him it was something minor. The Athletic's Ben Standig speaks with us about Williams's health, his strained relationship with the team, and whether or[...]
Warning: This episode contains graphic material related to sexual assault that may not be suitable for all audiences.Sarah Klein is one of the first known victims of former gymnastics team physician and serial sexual predator, Larry Nassar. As an adult, Sarah struggled with anxiety, depression, and a range of physical ailments. Then Sarah connected with[...]
OJ Simpson's #32 jersey has returned to the football field in Buffalo for the first time in 42 years. It's being worn by a backup running back (and special teams player) named Senorise Perry. The Athletic's Tim Graham broke the story about OJ's number being put back in circulation back in May. We check in[...]
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the biggest superstar in boxing, is the main event this weekend in Las Vegas. But, just as Canelo looks to win another championship belt, a rift has erupted between him and his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. The two men aren’t on speaking terms and the feud has spilled over onto social[...]
Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders was so grief-stricken after his father, Flip, passed away four years ago that he considered leaving his job as an assistant coach and buying a cabin in the woods. The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski tells the story of Ryan's path to recovery, the role his family played in his healing, and how,[...]
The NCAA announced it will take steps to allow college athletes to make money off their names and likenesses. It's a major shift for the organization that has come under political pressure to address the issue. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker wants to fundamentally change professional and college sports in the U.S. He recently[...]
The North Carolina Courage defeated the Chicago Red Stars 4-0 in the final of the NWSL on Sunday. This summer's World Cup generated a lot of talk about equal pay, and also led to a new broadcast deal and a major corporate sponsor for the NWSL. We chat with The Athletic's Megan Linehan about the[...]
Drew Brees returned to the Saints' lineup yesterday, but it was his backup, Teddy Bridgewater, who got the biggest cheers. Bridgewater led the Saints to a perfect 5-0 record while Brees recovered from a thumb injury and established himself as a Saints folk hero in the process. Bridgewater is one of many backup QBs who[...]
Steph Curry knows that everything has changed for the Warriors. The team lost three big players from their championship run and superstar Klay Thompson could miss the entire season due to a torn ACL. In an exclusive interview with Curry, The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami speaks with the three-time NBA Champion about the new-look Warriors, what[...]
The Houston Astros are under intense pressure to make things right after their assistant General Manager reportedly taunted a group of female reporters in the locker room. Brandon Taubman screamed "Thank God we got Osuna! I'm so "effing" glad we got Osuna!" He was referencing Roberto Osuna, a star pitcher who was suspended for 75[...]
Anders sits down with LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley, who was just named MLS Coach of the Year, to discuss his team's incredible regular season, what motivates him, and why he wants his players to express their personalities on the field. Bob also reflects on his remarkable career, including his time in Egypt and England.See[...]
The most anticipated match in MLS history is tomorrow. LAFC takes on cross-town rivals LA Galaxy in the second round of the playoffs. LAFC had a record-breaking regular season, led by Mexican superstar Carlos Vela. But they've never beaten the LA Galaxy or Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Athletic's Josh Gross walks us through the amazing story[...]
Paul George and Anthony Davis did something this off-season that rattled the NBA to its very core -- they forced their teams to trade them, despite the fact that they were still under contract. The Athletic's Sam Amick joins us to explain how NBA superstars have become so powerful that they can dictate their own[...]
With the World Series about to begin, we check in with Dr. Meredith Wills, an astrophysicist, about one of this season's biggest storylines -- the record-setting number of home runs and the allegedly "juiced" baseballs. Wells has been studying MLB balls for years, and she explains her findings. Plus, we check in with The Athletic's Jayson[...]
In 1986 the NCAA delivered what is unofficially known as the “death penalty” to the Southern Methodist University football program. The team was found guilty of egregious recruiting violations and barred from playing any football during the 1987 season, along with other sanctions. Now, the Mustangs are 6-0 and back in the AP Top 25[...]
On Monday night, the Lions lost to the Packers after a series of dubious calls by the referees. Fans were outraged. Commentator Booger McFarland went berserk. Even Barry Sanders, the soft-spoken former Lions star, voiced his frustration on Twitter. NFL writer Lindsay Jones joins us to explain what happened in the game, how and why[...]
Former Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs unexpectedly died in July. An autopsy revealed he had fentanyl and oxycodone in his system. New reporting suggests an Angels employee — who is cooperating with the DEA — supplied drugs for Skaggs and that two other high-ranking executives knew about Skaggs's drug use as early as 2017. In[...]
As the NBA stays locked in a political standoff with China, the league has also made a big move in another major overseas market: India. The league played its first-ever preseason game in India two weekends ago. The Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings tipped off in Mumbai before a crowd of 4,500 people -- oddly,[...]
Joseph Tsai, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets has become a central character in the NBA-China story. As co-founder and executive vice-chairman of Alibaba, he has close ties to the Chinese government, and recently released a statement in support of China’s policies in Hong Kong. The Athletic's Bill Shea joins us to talk about Tsai's[...]
Big League Chew, the bubble gum made to look like chewing tobacco, turns 40 next year. The gum has a fascinating history that involves an independent baseball team in Portland, the actor Kurt Russell, and two baseball outsiders who used chewing gum to stay connected to the game they love -- and to book their[...]
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey created an international incident with a tweet in support of Hong Kong protesters. The backlash was swift and severe, as China broke ties with the Rockets and ceased broadcasting their games. Estimates say the NBA's relationship with China is worth billions, so the league is trying to walk a[...]
A nine-month investigation by The Athletic raises troubling questions about abnormally high ADHD rates among University of North Carolina athletes and their use of prescription medications, and asks why these high levels of ADHD were not disclosed in papers coming out of the UNC’s renowned brain injury research center. The investigation calls into question the[...]
The New York Yankees are one of the most storied teams in all of professional sports. So how did a former player-turned-broadcaster with no managerial experience become the team’s skipper? Hear about Aaron Boone’s unlikely rise to the most iconic job in baseball, learn more about his famous ‘savages in the box’ incident, and find[...]
The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the best young teams in professional hockey. The team is also led by a very young general manager who has placed a premium on locking in youthful talent with big contracts. It’s part of a wider movement in the NHL where young players are commanding the type of[...]
A joint investigation from The Athletic and WVUE-TV in New Orleans reveals why a football stadium that was supposed to be built in New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward still has not been completed. The project was intended to be a symbol of recovery after Hurricane Katrina. A decade later, there’s still no field and less[...]
A joint investigation from The Athletic and WVUE-TV in New Orleans reveals why a high school football stadium that was supposed to be a symbol of recovery after Hurricane Katrina was never completed. Celebrity athletes like Drew Brees and Saints head coach Sean Payton helped provide funding. The project captured the attention of President Obama,[...]
We interview Governor Gavin Newsom about the bill he signed into law that will allow college athletes in California to be paid for the use of their name and likeness. We ask him why he signed the bill, what impact he thinks it will have, and why he agrees with the President of the NCAA[...]
The MLB Wild Card games are set. After a 162-game season, four teams will meet this week in do-or-die matchups to determine who will advance and who will go home. This year's Wild Card games feature two teams that have made the playoffs despite having some of the lowest payrolls in baseball (the A's and[...]
A heart attack scare, a badly broken arm, and the loss of a franchise player were not enough to keep the Washington Nationals from clinching a wild card berth this season. The Nats became just the third team in more than 30 years to make the playoffs after being 12 games below .500. The Athletic's Brittany[...]
The Michigan Wolverines were blown out last Saturday by Wisconsin. It was the latest loss by Jim Harbaugh to a ranked opponent. Since then, questions have swirled about Harbaugh's future with the Wolverines. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner joins us to talk about Harbaugh’s journey from Ann Arbor kid to "Michigan Man," and whether or not[...]
The Tampa Bay Rays are currently competing for a Wild Card spot as the baseball season enters its final days. But despite a successful season on the field the team is struggling to get fans into the stands. Attendance has been so dismal that team ownership is considering splitting home games between Florida and Montreal[...]
Shaquille O’Neal’s was one of the most dominant centers to ever play in the NBA. And now, he wants his post basketball life to mirror his days on the court. Through business investments, strict social media rules and always listening to his mother Shaq is on a mission to become the richest retired basketball player[...]
Antonio Brown spent just 11 days with the New England Patriots before they released him amid accusations of rape and sexual assault. With so much controversy swirling around the All-Pro receiver, what was the final straw? We look at the history of the Patriots taking on risky players and analyze the famous “Patriot Way.”In her[...]
A reporter goes undercover to try out for a G League Basketball team, and let’s just say it does not go well. The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf recounts his hilarious experience trying out for the Texas Legends, a developmental affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks.And The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson reflects on the remarkable career of Shaun Livingston,[...]
Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney wants his players to talk about themselves and their backgrounds, so he created something called "the safe seat." It's part of a broader effort to address mental health issues among his players. It can be especially hard for college athletes to talk about mental health. And even though colleges[...]
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? It turns out a women’s college basketball team planted the seeds for the viral internet trend that took over the Internet in 2014. The Athletic’s Steve Buckley joins us to talk about how it all happened and how three men with Lou Gehrig’s Disease inspired millions of people to transform[...]
Wide receiver Antonio Brown is facing accusations of rape and sexual assault. Brown made his debut with the New England Patriots on Sunday after a tumultuous offseason. We talk with The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones about the Antonio Brown saga and the NFL’s history of handling players accused of violence against women.Read The Athletic's coverage on[...]
It was another bad call. The LA Rams and New Orleans Saints met again yesterday, for the first time since last season’s NFC Championship game, when the Saints lost after one of the worst calls in sports history. That call sparked rule changes, protests, lawsuits and even a passionate speech from a U.S. Senator in Washington.[...]
The award-winning sports show from Wondery, known for delivering the best storytelling in sports. Every Wednesday and Friday, co-hosts Tiffany Oshinsky and Anders Kelto dive into the biggest and most fascinating sports stories of the day, as told by the reporters who cover them up close. The Lead cuts through the chatter and brings you[...]

The award-winning sports show from Wondery, known for delivering the best storytelling in sports. Every Wednesday and Friday, co-hosts Tiffany Oshinsky and Anders Kelto dive into the biggest and most fascinating sports stories of the day, as told by the reporters who cover them up close. The Lead cuts through the chatter and brings you in-depth reporting and emotional stories, to help make sense of the complicated sports landscape. New episodes every Wednesday and Friday. All episodes are available ad-free on Wondery+ or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

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