ESPN Daily

Formula 1 Racing has been incredibly popular overseas for decades. Its drivers are some of the most well-known and highest paid athletes in the world, but it's never taken off in the U.S. Now, thanks in part to the hit Netflix series “F1: Drive to Survive,” Formula 1 has begun to convert Americans with its high-speed danger and soap opera drama. Ryan McGee takes the wheel to give a crash course on Formula 1 racing. Then Marc Spears explains what Juneteenth means to him across sports and culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Australian two-time world champion Tyler Wright was born to surf. She achieved incredible victories in the water, while enduring tremendous loss in her personal life. This combination of fame and chaos nearly broke her. As she was falling in love with her then-girlfriend, Wright also wasn’t sure her sport could accept her. It took a crippling illness for Wright to decide she was not only going to keep surfing, but do so while being unapologetically herself. Alyssa Roenigk reports on this incredible journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. Open tees off this week, with all eyes on the simmering feud between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. Michael Collins, ESPN analyst and host of “America’s Caddie” on ESPN+, joins the show from Torrey Pines to discuss the origins of this rivalry, why the bad blood between these two golf stars has continued, and whether or not all the drama is good for the sport. Plus, how Collins went from standup comedy stages to the links. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been 10 years since the Vancouver Canucks lost Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins, in Vancouver. Canucks fans didn’t exactly hide their frustrations, as a riot engulfed the city. Now, a decade later, arguably the most enduring image of that night was a photo of a couple, kissing on the ground, surrounded by police in riot gear. Greg Wyshynski caught up with the couple, and the photographer, and joins the show to share how that iconic image endures to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another weekend of NBA playoff action is in the books. On Sunday, tensions flared between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, with league MVP Nikola Jokic getting ejected in the third quarter as the Suns swept. The Milwaukee Bucks put together a dominant effort led by Giannis Antetokounmpo to win Game 4 vs. the Nets, putting the series at 2-2 as Brooklyn grapples with Kyrie Irving and James Harden’s injuries. Kirk Goldsberry assesses all the on-the-court action and looks ahead to the rest of this week’s games. Then, newcomer Nets superfan Mina Kimes reassures the Brooklyn faithful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Never has “better late than never” meant so much to so many. That’s because the 2020 Euros - aka the UEFA European Championship - kicks off today after a year’s delay due to the pandemic. It’s a tournament that consumes the continent and combines high drama on the pitch with real-world geopolitical stakes off of it. Coming off their World Cup victory in 2018, France are heavy favorites, but can they survive the “Group of Death” with rival Germany and reigning champs Portugal? Sam Borden joins us from Rome for a preview of the 24-team field that will see matches played at 11 sites across Europe. Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on athletes and coaches deciding to get the COVID vaccine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The worst-kept secret in baseball is being brought to light. With batting averages at an all-time low and strikeouts at an all-time high, Major League Baseball is cracking down on pitchers using foreign substances to get a better grip on the ball. Buster Olney helps us understand why it took so long for MLB to enforce these rules, and why the gentleman’s agreement that tolerated the practice for years no longer holds. It’s an all-too-familiar story in a sport where the steroid era proved that players will always seek any available competitive edge. Then, Montreal native Ariel Helwani makes the case for why we should jump on the Montreal Canadiens bandwagon, as they’re one series away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This NFL offseason is bursting with drama. There’s Julio Jones signing with the Tennessee Titans after more than a decade as the Atlanta Falcons star receiver. Aaron Rodgers won’t be showing up for required OTAs with the Packers, and his rift with the organization isn’t any closer to resolution. Ryan Clark helps us navigate the biggest NFL storylines, checks in on the various QB controversies, and discusses which teams have the most at stake in the coming months heading into the regular season. Then, Jessica Mendoza comes up to the plate to talk about the Women’s College World Series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL says it will stop using race-norming in evaluating former players’ concussion claims, as the practice makes it less likely for Black claimants to receive financial compensation. In years of settling and paying out claims up to now, the league has maintained its process was sound. Ryan Smith has been investigating the story for ESPN and ABC. He shares what prompted the NFL’s change in position, what updates to the program might look like and cost, and whether Black players previously denied payouts with race-norming in place will now be compensated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first round of the NBA Playoffs closed out in dramatic fashion yesterday, with Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard providing a pair of dynamic performances in Game 7 as the Clippers advanced past the Mavs. Also, the Atlanta Hawks took Game 1 in their series vs. the Sixers, thanks to a nearly unstoppable Trae Young, who’s been the breakout star of this postseason. And despite James Harden going down with an injury in the first minute, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1...and are now looking at the prospect of being Harden-less for at least Game 2. Brian Windhorst runs through the biggest storylines of the weekend’s basketball action, and looks ahead to the second round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The global internet celebrity Logal Paul faces off against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather this Sunday. Both men are controversial figures, who’ve faced criminal allegations. The veteran prizefighter taking on a viral video star is just the latest unconventional attempt to draw eyes to the boxing ring, as interest in combat sports continues to shift. ESPN’s Ben Baby examines why Mayweather came out of retirement to fight Paul, why internet stars like Paul may be poised to succeed on pay-per-view, and if this is the future of the “sweet science.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mascots come in all shapes and sizes. From animals like the Oriole Bird or Roary the Lion to creatures like Gritty, mascots are a zany yet indelible part of sports. And while we honor the best players, teams, and coaches at various hall of fame institutions, there hasn’t been a place to honor mascots … until now. The three-story, 18 million-dollar Mascot Hall of Fame is open in Whiting, Indiana. Jake Malooley takes us behind the scenes to its hallowed, fur-lined halls. And he shares the story of the man who made it all happen: Dave Raymond, who worked as the original Phillie Phanatic. Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on LeBron James and the Lakers’ recent struggles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lou Gehrig was one of the greatest players in the history of baseball. But Gehrig’s career, and ultimately his life, was cut short by the disease with which he has become synonymous, ALS. In March, MLB announced plans for their first annual Lou Gehrig Day, which will be celebrated each year on June 2nd. Jeff Passan joins the show to examine Gehrig’s legacy, and to share the story of the man who actually made MLB’s Lou Gehrig Day happen: Brian Wayne Gallantine. Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on Naomi Osaka’s comments about the post-match press conferences at the French Open and mental health in sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Serena Williams. Tom Brady. Roger Federer. What really goes into making a G.O.A.T.? And extending that greatness for decades? Reporter, best-selling author, and current host of the podcast How To!, David Epstein is one of sports’ top mythbusters. His books The Sports Gene and Range delve into athletes’ lives, minds and habits to find the building blocks of success. Epstein applies his findings to trends like more superstars performing well as they age, and why getting kids to specialize in one sport might actually lead to injury rather than wins, in a re-air of one of our favorite episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For generations, men and women from around the sports world have also served in our nation’s military. Among them, Rocky Bleier's story stands out. Bleier won a college football national championship with Notre Dame, then during his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Three months into his deployment to Vietnam, Bleier was shot through the thigh and suffered a grenade blast to his foot. Doctors told him he’d never play football again. But Bleier would rejoin the Steelers and win four Super Bowls with the team in the 1970s. In 2018, Bleier and ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi traveled to Vietnam, to the Hiep Duc Valley, where Bleier served, and where many of his fellow soldiers were killed in an ambush. We re-air this story for Memorial Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas Mavericks center Boban Marjanovic stands at 7’4” and the Serbia native is most likely your favorite NBA player’s favorite player. Known for his quirky personality and authenticity, Boban calls himself a "big friendly giant," and his presence in the Mavs’ locker room brings something immeasurable. Sam Borden shares how Boban’s influenced the team, including star Luka Doncic, as the team goes for a 3-0 lead in their series against the Clippers. Then, Tottenham superfan Sun Min Kimes makes a triumphant return to preview this weekend’s Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been in limbo since the COVID pandemic gripped the world. The games have already been postponed a full year, and are now less than two months away. But even as the opening ceremonies on July 23rd draw closer and closer, it’s still unclear whether or not the Tokyo Olympics will actually take place. With coronavirus cases surging in Japan, and distribution of the vaccine proceeding slowly, Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency. And perhaps most importantly, public opinion in Japan is now firmly on the side of canceling the games outright. But the International Olympic Committee has been adamant about moving forward with the games. ESPN senior writer Tom Hamilton, who’s based in London, and the Times of London’s Asia editor Richard Lloyd Parry, who’s based in Tokyo, explain the financial implications, public health risks, and other factors at play as the Tokyo Olympics hang in the balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has one oft-repeated mantra: “The magic is in the work.” It’s a mantra that has struck a chord with Julius Randle, whose work has paid off this year. Randle has led the Knicks to the playoffs, made an All-Star appearance, and was just named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Nick Friedell has covered Thibodeau for ten years, and joins the show to explain Thibodeau’s coaching style, and what it means for a player like Randle to be a “Thibs guy.” Then, Packers reporter Rob Demovsky helps us parse through Aaron Rodgers’ recent comments, and his future with the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One year ago, May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. The event spurred protest, activism and action around the world. In sports, perhaps no entity was as prepared to deal with the resulting racial reckoning as the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. Katie Barnes joins the show to share stories from the women of the Lynx. From personal experiences that inform their views on criminal justice, to how the team first took a stand against disproportionate police violence many years ago, the Lynx have been central to sports’ evolving relationship with athlete activism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know and love the Marvin Gaye song “What’s Going On,” which turned 50 this month. But do you know the background voices on the hit song belong to two Detroit Lions? The Motown superstar developed a deep friendship with NFL players Mel Farr and Lem Barney, and it led to music history. Plus the story gets even better, as Farr and Barney helped Marvin Gaye take his dream of playing pro football to the next level. Justin Tinsley joins the show to tell the amazing story of football’s role in Marvin Gaye’s turbulent life, also a Sports Center feature and 2017 story for The Undefeated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When LeBron James sunk a game winning 3-point shot in the final minute of Wednesday’s play-in game vs. Golden State, it felt like the NBA playoffs had already begun. And now, the seventh seeded Lakers are actually favored in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. As the playoffs loom, Kevin Arnovitz tells us how LeBron and Anthony Davis (who are still recovering from injuries) and the Lakers might handle Chris Paul and the Suns. Plus he makes the case for why we should hop on the Utah Jazz bandwagon. And why Bucks vs. Heat might be the most enticing matchup in the entire first round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lionel Messi shocked the soccer world last year when he announced he wanted to leave Barcelona, the team he’s played for since he was a teenager. Messi’s contract expires at the end of June, and clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are poised to make massive offers to the man many consider the greatest player of all time. Sid Lowe has covered Messi for his entire career with Barcelona from inside Spain, and joins the show to take us through how Messi came to this crossroads, the stages of Messi’s career from Argentina to Barcelona, and what his next move might be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When an unknown 25-year-old named John Daly showed up at the 1991 PGA Championship literally the night before -- as the ninth alternate -- he pulled off the biggest upset in golf history and became an instant icon, 30 years ago this August. Daly’s style (namely his mullet), and his behavior (namely chain smoking and drinking too much) set him apart from the buttoned up country club crowd. But his massive drives and bad boy persona made him a fan favorite, and his win at the 1991 PGA Championship in Carmel, Indiana made him a legend in golf history. What’s less well known, but no less significant, is the story of another man who attended that tournament. During the first round, Tom Weaver, a spectator and father of two, was struck in the chest by lightning, and died at the scene. ESPN’s Bob Harig shares the story of Tom Weaver, and the gift Daly sent his family afterwards, that lives on to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No one is happier to see the New York Knicks in the NBA Playoffs than our own Stephen A. Smith. But the ESPN host and commentator infamously pulls no punches as a critic of the team, or the league in general. And he has his share of takes on the painful path it took for the Knicks to get here. Hear what he thinks happens next. Plus, Stephen A’s best bets to make it past the NBA Play-In Tournament, tipping off today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The late Kobe Bryant was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, where his wife Vanessa delivered a moving speech remembering her husband during Saturday’s emotional night. Also inducted were fellow NBA icons Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett...as well as our own Michael Wilbon, who was given the Curt Gowdy Media Award. Wilbon joins the show to share some behind-the-scenes moments from a historic basketball weekend. Then, ESPN’s Dan Hajducky reflects on a connection he shares with Hall of Fame inductee and WNBA legend Tamika Catchings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Medina Spirit will race in this weekend’s Preakness, fresh off a win at the Kentucky Derby. The victory is clouded in controversy, because a drug test right after came up positive for a substance banned on race day. Longtime trainer and racing honcho Bob Baffert has denied wrongdoing, but this is just the latest in a string of concerning incidents around his massive horse training operation. Matt Hegarty of Daily Racing Form walks us through the timeline of events, leading up to this weekend’s Preakness, and the implications for superstar Baffert. Then Wright Thompson, reporter for ESPN’s “Bloodlines” podcast, shares more on his time with Baffert, and the state of racing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joel Embiid’s 2021 season has been marked by seismic ups and downs. With the Sixers leading the Eastern Conference, Embiid was the front runner for NBA MVP through mid-March...until he went down with a knee injury that sidelined him for 10 games. The injury was just the latest roadblock in a career that’s seemingly always just on the cusp of fulfilling its potential. And off the court, Embiid has faced personal tragedy, with the death of his brother Arthur, as well as joy, with the birth of his first child, whom he’s named after his late brother. As Embiid and the 76ers look toward the postseason, Ramona Shelburne sits down with Joel Embiid as he reveals his emotional journey and shares what drives him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The WNBA celebrates its 25th anniversary this season, a historic milestone for a league that many thought would never last. From the league’s beginnings and the rise of stars like Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes to the modern game and the myriad of social justice initiatives undertaken by the players, the game has changed massively in the past quarter-century, both on and off the court. Rebecca Lobo was there from the beginning. She reflects on growing pains in the league’s early days, and what comes next. Then Pablo hashes Russian president Vladimir Putin’s eight goal "performance" in a hockey exhibition game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The reigning champion Lakers currently sit way down at seventh in the Western Conference, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis having been out for long stretches due to injury. With both stars returning, the Lake Show is pushing for a postseason berth. Brian Windhorst explains LeBron and company’s chances. And he breaks down what the play-in games mean, love them or hate them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New York Rangers face drama on and off the ice, around the league’s response to Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson’s latest incident and history of injuring opponents. This weekend, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid reached the milestone of 100 points in 53 games, as he’s looking more and more like the favorite for league MVP. And that’s just the latest in a season of big NHL headlines, as the league skates toward the playoffs. ESPN hockey insiders Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski co-host our NHL breakdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

**NOTE: This episode originally aired on February 2nd, 2021** Twenty-nine-year-old Drew Robinson is attempting a Major League Baseball return unlike any other. Robinson worked his way through the minors for many years, and in 2017 he finally made the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day roster. But what followed was a bumpy path up and down between leagues and teams. All the while, Robinson struggled with mental health concerns. On April 16th, 2020, Drew Robinson attempted suicide. He lived. And now, with ongoing rehabilitation and therapy, Robinson worked his way back into professional baseball, as he has successfully made the roster for the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate for the 2021 season. ESPN’s Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan shares his reporting behind the ESPN+ special from E:60, “Alive: The Drew Robinson Story.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL world was stunned last week by the report of Aaron Rodgers wanting out of Green Bay, and in the time since, little has emerged to suggest the situation will be easily resolved. Rodgers has been teasing a departure for months for a myriad of reasons, from the unexpected arrival of QB Jordan Love last season to unhappiness with Packers leadership to the allure of a permanent new gig hosting “Jeopardy!” Longtime Packers beat reporter Rob Demovsky joins the show to unpack the situation, explore whether Packers fans are turning on Rodgers, and sort out what might happen next. Then, in honor of Mother’s Day, Pablo shares how Arizona women’s basketball coach Adia Barnes has become an inspiration to working moms everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we approach the NBA playoffs, stakes are high for missing games, and coronavirus vaccines are tantamount. The person leading vaccine rollout, and all player health and safety amid this pandemic, is Dr. Leroy Sims. As Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs for the NBA, Sims has overseen every detail of fighting COVID-19. He shares insights from an unprecedented year, and what he sees ahead. Then Jeff Passan has news about baseball player Drew Robinson. He attempted suicide. And lived. And now he’s returning to the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is no one in the NBA like Russell Westbrook. The former league MVP routinely puts up eye-popping stat lines and is now just four triple-doubles away from breaking Oscar Robertson's all-time triple-double record. But what’s even more impressive about Westbrook is how he’s elevating the Washington Wizards, and shockingly making them look like a contender this May. But Westbrook is not without his critics, particularly among the analytics obsessed NBA-types who worship at the altar of “efficiency.” Today, Kirk Goldsberry joins the show to break down the paradox that is Russell Westbrook: Is he a uniquely talented player who puts up historic numbers? Or one whose weaknesses are seemingly at odds with success in the modern NBA? Can he be both? Then, Pablo shares an update on the Indian Premier League’s suspension amidst growing COVID cases in India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Europe’s Champions League Semifinals start today, the soccer world is still reeling from protesting fans in England. Hundreds stormed Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on Sunday, injured police officers and led Liverpool and Man United to reschedule their game. It all stems back to a failed plan for Europe’s biggest soccer teams to form a breakaway league, that revealed team owners’ and populist fans’ diverging ideas about the future of soccer in Europe. As long-standing tensions flare up, global sports correspondent Sam Borden breaks down the culture and economics in play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani is breaking MLB records that have been held for a century. He just became the first player since Babe Ruth to start a game as a pitcher...while also leading the league in home runs as a hitter. As he takes the mound again in Anaheim tonight, Alden Gonzalez explains what Ohtani’s success as a two-way player means for the game, and if we’ll see more like him going forward. Then, today’s soccer fan protests and how they’re connected to deeper discontent in Europe’s teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2021 NFL Draft first round is in the books, and prospects are on the way to their new teams. From the 49ers’ secretive plan to take QB Trey Lance as the number three pick, to the Bears trading up for QB Justin Fields, quarterbacks remained the story at the center. And then there are the other wins down the roster, like the Falcons’ new tight end Kyle Pitts. But we also have to talk about Aaron Rodgers’ surprise pre-draft gripes about Green Bay, don’t we? Bill Barnwell sizes up the surprises and key storylines of draft night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Seattle Seahawks drafted Richard Sherman with the 154th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, behind 24 other cornerbacks. 10 years later, Sherman is still punishing the league for letting him fall that far, and created a legacy that will one day send him to Canton. But what did everyone miss when they were evaluating Sherman in 2011? And why didn’t they see his potential? On the day of the 2021 NFL Draft, Domonique Foxworth explains what Richard Sherman, the prospect, can teach us about what we’ll see during these next three days of drafting...and everything we won’t. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ll find several “Jalens” in the NFL draft this week, the NBA draft this summer, and any number of games you turn on ... from Jalen Suggs to Jalen Green to Jalen Mayfield. For years our colleague, friend and basketball veteran Jalen Rose has maintained that today’s Jalens are named for him (whether they know it or not). We honor Jalen Rose’s mother, the recently passed Jeanne Rose, exploring the history and mystery of his name in sports and beyond. With data, experts, and extensive interviews, the Jalen paradox is solved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The sports world is ripe with famous siblings like the Watt brothers, Williams sisters, Currys, Gasols, and on and on. But a superstar’s non-athlete sibling doesn’t usually make news. Enter Chase Lawrence, the offbeat older brother of the top player in this week’s NFL Draft, Trevor Lawrence. Chase is an artist worth knowing and big influence on Trevor Lawrence himself. ESPN’s Dave Fleming explains how the bond between these two is a hidden factor in Trevor’s rise, and the new collaboration that’s bringing their worlds together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the 2021 NFL Draft this week, we won’t have family cams or yacht cameos. Live and in-person from Cleveland, teams will match with top talent, including a handful of historically great quarterbacks. And we’ll see what franchises who traded up for higher draft picks have in mind. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes previews all the drama. Then, goodbye to a goat who’s truly a GOAT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been a strange and turbulent NBA season, and the race for MVP is no different. While Nikola Jokic is leading the pack at the moment, familiar names like Steph Curry, Joel Embiid and even James Harden are all still very much in the race. Today, Zach Lowe breaks down the MVP favorites, and also explains how the New York Knicks, yes, the New York Knicks, became the hottest playoff team in the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After squaring off on Fight Island last year, Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal prepare to fight once again this Saturday at UFC 261 with the welterweight title on the line. Usman retained his belt by unanimous decision the first time around -- but simply beating Masvidal was not enough for Usman: this time, he wants to break Masvidal’s soul. ESPN’s Dotun Akintoye joins the show to share the story of Usman, the man known as the Nigerian Nightmare, and tells us what fuels one of the greatest MMA fighters on the planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deion Sanders was one of the NFL’s most flamboyant characters, where he earned nicknames like “Prime Time” and “Neon Deion.” Now, he’s just finished his first season as head coach at Jackson State (yes, spring football due to COVID-19). Our guest, sports writer Jean-Jacques Taylor, covered Sanders’ career for the NFL and reported on his coaching season for The Undefeated. Then, Myron Medcalf joins us from Minneapolis on the sports world’s reaction to a guilty verdict for the man who killed George Floyd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the weekend, news broke that 12 of the biggest soccer teams from across Europe are attempting to break away and create their own “Super League.” The backlash was immediate and widespread, from politicians and royalty to fans across the world. Sam Borden joins the show to explain if the creation of the new league is even possible, and why it’s got the soccer world in an uproar. Then, Pablo shares the story of Gary Payton, a former NBA guard who doesn’t partake in cannabis at all, yet is the face of one of the most popular legal strains of marijuana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MLB’s 2021 season is delivering wild numbers: eye-popping speed on the average fastball, and crazy-low batting averages. Look no further than the dominance of New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom. ESPN Baseball Insider Jeff Passan tells us why fastballs are faster and sliders more nasty. Hear how it’s all changing today’s game in ways that could harm its appeal, if MLB doesn’t take action. Then, an all-time hockey record is breaking tonight, and the two players involved and their careers couldn’t be more different. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL Draft is American institution. And for the past 40 years, the unmistakable voice of that institution has been Mel Kiper Jr. His “Big Board” and mock drafts have become a rite of spring, a yearly ritual that signals your team will soon be “on the clock.” It is a remarkable climb for someone who used a typewriter to compile draft reports as a teenager, before the NFL Draft was even televised. Mel joins the show to explain how he helped turn his personal obsession into a national obsession…and made us all draft nerds in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against Deshaun Watson have until this week played out through lawyers’ statements and accuser anonymity. Now, more women are attaching their names to court filings and speaking in public. While some of Watson’s corporate sponsors are suspending deals with him, some women are speaking in support of Watson, saying their experiences with him were not inappropriate. Investigative reporter John Barr walks us through the conflicting narratives at play in these developments. Then, ahead of the WNBA draft Thursday night, Kevin Pelton weighs in on the league’s eligibility rules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Quarterback Trey Lance is projected to be a top-10 pick in this year's NFL draft. But the 20-year-old from North Dakota State has largely flown under the radar, overshadowed by big names like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. Lance and his family have bucked trends from the start, and his path to the NFL has seemed fast, and yet also circuitous. Tim Keown shares Lance’s story, and why he's captured the attention of NFL scouts everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daryl Morey, Philadelphia 76ers general manager, co-founded an event 15 years ago that’s become the hub of all things data-driven in sports. At the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, researchers, athletes, coaches and commentators swap takes on the digital trends changing how games are played, and how business is done. Morey joins Pablo to definitely not apologize for anything, to discuss the rise of sports analytics, and how data can make teams and the NBA game itself even better. Then, Myron Medcalf gives us a view from Minnesota, where Twin Cities teams postponed games in the wake of the police shooting of Daunte Wright. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices