ESPN Daily

Baseball is steeped in time-honored traditions and a code of unwritten rules. But players in today’s game are starting to break those rules: flipping their bats, admiring their home runs, and, say, hitting a Grand Slam when up 10-3 in the 8th inning. Ok, that last one was just Fernando Tatis Jr. ESPN’s Joon Lee explains how baseball’s youngest generation is challenging the establishment and injecting their personalities into the game - and why that’s changing the sport for the better. Then, Pablo shares the story of a prison basketball game where an unlikely play-by-play star was born. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might know about Freddie Freeman, the baseball player...the gold glover and four time All-Star...who battled back from covid to win NL MVP last year. But the Freddie Freeman you don’t know is even more remarkable. Buster Olney joins the show to take us inside Full Circle: The Freddie Freeman Story: airing this Sunday on E:60, and presents an exclusive and emotional portrait of one of the game’s best players. Freeman opens up as never before about the loss of loved ones, as well as the struggles he and his wife have endured in starting of a family of their own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MLB moved the All-Star Game out of Georgia, after the state passed a law hampering voting access. As MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred takes heat from many directions, baseball’s move has cast a different kind of spotlight on the Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. It’s teeing off as scheduled, and that’s not surprising to ESPN senior writer and baseball historian Howard Bryant. He breaks down the business side of MLB’s decision, how it’s reverberating, and the many stakeholders in play. Then, Pablo shares a personal connection with the pimento cheese sandwich, a time-honored staple at the Masters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers on Monday, they essentially announced to the world that they will be selecting a quarterback with the 2nd pick in the upcoming NFL draft. And at the top of this year’s draft…they’re not alone. The 2021 QB Draft class is one of the deepest in memory, and the top 5 QB prospects could all potentially be picked in the top 10. Some, like Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, are considered as sure a bet as any prospect since Andrew Luck. Others, like North Dakota State’s Trey Lance may not have the big program pedigree...but are still projected to be among the first players taken. Field Yates joins the show to assess the top 5 QB prospects...and makes his prediction for where they might end up. Then, ahead of the Masters Tournament, Sam Borden shares the story of Tim Tucker, golf genius Bryson DeChambeau’s caddie, and their unique dynamic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Baylor Bears are your NCAA champions, for the first time in the program’s history. After decimating Houston in the Final Four, Baylor put on an offensive showcase powered by impressive scoring runs, and ended Gonzaga’s quest for a perfect season. Jalen Suggs and the Zags’ offense were unable to get anything going against the stalwart Baylor defense. Myron Medcalf joins us from Indianapolis to break down the title game and reflect on the 2021 tournament. Then, Pablo remarks on Aaron Rodgers’ self-aware debut as Jeopardy guest host. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gonzaga and Baylor tip off tonight in the NCAA Championship after a thrilling pair of Final Four games. Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs hit a wild game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime on Saturday vs. UCLA that sent Sports Twitter into overdrive, as Gonzaga furthered its quest for a perfect season. Also on Saturday, Baylor blew out Houston with Jared Butler landing 17 points, and five players recording double figures. Jeff Borzello recounts Suggs’ 3 heard ‘round the world. And LaChina Robinson breaks down how Stanford bested Arizona in another neck-and-neck game to become the women's champions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend, the men’s and women’s NCAA Final Four games tip off in Indianapolis and San Antonio, respectively. On the men’s side, Gonzaga will look to fend off surprising UCLA, who just upset #1 Michigan, while Baylor and Houston face off in a rare Lone Star State showdown. Myron Medcalf is on the ground in Indianapolis and shares his insights on each Final Four matchup. For the women, powerhouse UConn, lead by star freshman Paige Bueckers, will do battle with Arizona, who’s making its first Final Four appearance. And Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks look to continue their defensive stand against tournament favorite Stanford. LaChina Robinson is on site in San Antonio to preview the pair of games, and reflects on the women’s tournament thus far. Then, Katie Barnes updates us on the BFFs of the tournament: Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs and UConn’s Paige Bueckers, as they each prepare for the semifinals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baseball’s Opening Day is finally here! After a shortened 2020 season, MLB is back with a 162 game schedule and plenty of exciting storylines. With fans back in the stands, will the Houston Astros finally receive the reckoning many thought they’d get following their cheating scandal? Will Francisco Lindor live up to the hype and take the Mets to the postseason? Can the upstart Padres match up with the defending champion Dodgers? Tim Kurkjian runs through everything you need to know heading into this baseball season, and even gives Baltimore Orioles fans something to hope for. Then, new Cubs TV play-by-play announcer Boog Sciambi talks with Pablo about taking up the iconic broadcasting mantle at Wrigley Field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the winningest team in high school football hired the most controversial coach in high school football, heads turned all over the state of Georgia. What ensued was a 15-month saga of small-town, big time football that ended up dividing an entire town. Mark Schlabach brings us a story of funny money, a secret recording, and the unraveling of a powerhouse high school football program in Valdosta, Georgia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New York Mets and their fans have been sports punchline fodder for decades. But Mets fans are a resilient (if occasionally delusional?) bunch, enduring heartbreak after heartbreak in the long history of the organization. Author Devin Gordon refers to the team as the “Best Worst Team in Sports” in his new book, “So Many Ways To Lose,” and he joins the show to discuss his research into the highs and lows of the Mets, their passionate fans, and unique legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nationals superstar Juan Soto has won a World Series, made a highlight reel’s worth of big hits, and holds a batting title. All that at 22 years old. A fan favorite in Washington, Soto is known for his swagger and disregard for baseball’s traditional decorum, as well as his megawatt smile. Jeff Passan recently talked with Soto for ESPN’s Cover Story, and he joins the show to explain how Soto’s swing - and his presence - are changing baseball for good. Then, Bill Barnwell runs through the biggest NFL news in trades and free agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The men’s Sweet 16 begins this weekend, full of unlikely contenders and March stalwarts. Oral Roberts is the Cinderella of the tournament so far, but Loyola Chicago has the power of 101-year-old nun Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt on their side. Gonzaga’s on the brink of a perfect season, but they’ll likely have to get through another #1 seed like Baylor. Myron Medcalf joins us from Indianapolis to preview the next set of matchups, based on his analysis on the tournament so far. Then, Ryan McGee tells us why Bristol Speedway’s become a dirt track this weekend -- the first NASCAR race on dirt in 50 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texans QB Deshaun Watson has been named in over a dozen civil lawsuits filed by a number of Houston area women over the last several days, alleging varying degrees of sexual misconduct and assault. ESPN investigative reporter John Barr takes us through the timeline and details of the cases, and where the legal action could go from here. Then, Texans reporter Sarah Barshop brings us up to speed on the team and NFL’s responses, and what this means for Watson’s future on the field in Houston and around the league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the time since we reached out to basketball pro Jeremy Lin about the mass shooting in Atlanta where eight people died - six of them women of Asian descent - ten more people have died in a Colorado shooting. Jeremy Lin joins us to share experiences with Pablo as first generation Asian Americans. Lin details his evolution on speaking out against stereotypes, understanding systemic injustice, and framing his identity in the limelight of sports during the NBA’s “Linsanity” period. Plus, what he’s focused on now around levers of social change and his basketball career. Then, Pablo pays tribute to a bird that met its demise via a pitch from Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, 20 years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his second NBA season, at just 20 years old, Zion Williamson is putting up numbers that land him alongside legends like Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal. Maybe you caught him in the All-Star Game, but if you haven’t been watching Pelicans games, you’re missing the evolution of a unique basketball talent. ESPN’s Andrew Lopez shares Zion’s accomplishments, and what it’ll take to get him to MVP status. Then, the most famous bowler of all time is retiring after 41 (yes, 41!) years. We remember Pete Weber’s career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year’s March Madness hasn’t come without its share of controversy. Michigan’s Isaiah Livers and others have tweeted and donned shirts with the phrase #NotNCAAProperty. And women’s players cried foul online over a paltry weight room and other disparities with the men’s team. It was just the latest example of social media’s power for college athletes, and that includes growing followings across all sports and types of schools. ESPN college sports reporter David Hale details new options and support for player empowerment and profit. And he explores what NIL (name, image, likeness) reform can look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gonzaga freshman Jalen Suggs and UConn freshman Paige Bueckers are the faces of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments. But the two stars go way back: they grew up in neighboring Minnesota cities, and first met when they both were in elementary school. As their basketball careers took off, Suggs and Bueckers stayed in touch and have relied on each other for support, and have remained friends off the court. Katie Barnes shares the story of their unique friendship, and whether NCAA championships are in their future. Then, Sue Bird makes a case for her UConn Huskies to win another women’s championship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re still many weeks away from the 2021 NFL Draft, and free agency is in full swing. Bill Belichick and the Patriots have been aggressive in acquiring new pieces, while his ex-QB Tom Brady and the Bucs have been focused on bringing back the roster that won the Super Bowl. Louis Riddick breaks down the latest moves as only he can, shares insights from behind the scenes, and tells us what comes next. Then, as the NCAA tournament kicks off, Dave Fleming confirms a trend among male fans ... who get a certain surgery in vast numbers every March. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are all NBA superstars destined to leave smaller market teams for Brooklyn, L.A. or Miami? Across the league, high-performing players are gravitating to coastal teams and bigger markets. The trend’s been building for years, increasingly splitting the league into teams that “have” or “have not.” Kirk Goldsberry plots the map and salary data, why this trend is bad for the NBA, and what strategies could turn things around. Then, as part of ESPN’s Women’s History Month celebration, hear from Lisa Salters’ sit-down with NFL referee Sarah Thomas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NCAA Tournament is set! It’s been anything but a normal college basketball season, and March Madness will continue the trend. Gonzaga could become the first team since 1976 to go undefeated and win a national championship, with Baylor, Illinois and Michigan also at the top. Georgetown, led by legendary Hoya Patrick Ewing, is back in the Big Dance. Duke is not in the tournament for the first time in decades. Jay Bilas breaks down the field, region by region, and the path to win it all. Then, insight from the WNBA’s Natasha Cloud as heard on LaChina Robinson’s “I’m Speaking” podcast series, one year since Breonna Taylor’s death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Cowboys have finally signed Dak Prescott to a four-year, $160 million deal, just five months after his season ending injury. For years, the Cowboys' front office had refused to give in to Dak’s contract demands...until now. ESPN's NFL analyst Mina Kimes breaks down one of the biggest deals in quarterback history and looks at how a shrinking salary cap is impacting NFL rosters. Then, Tottenham superfan (and mom to Mina Kimes) Sun Min Kimes shares her English Premier League takes ahead of this weekend’s match vs. Arsenal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One year ago today, on March 11, 2020, the NBA...and the entire world...suddenly stopped. That night, there was one athlete who found his way to the spotlight, and inadvertently became the face of the COVID pandemic as we knew it then: Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. Lisa Salters joins the show to share Gobert’s personal perspective on that night, and Gobert opens up about what it was like to be branded as Patient Zero of American sports. Then, a reflection on what it was like to cover the day in sports on March 11, 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In basketball there is no greater symbol of the 3-point shot than Golden State’s Steph Curry, who’s spawned a thousand imitators with his prowess. But for every 3-point attempted, is a more dynamic dunk lost? That’s what’s got the NBA on notice. Because, as with any trend, the 3-point obsession may be going too far. ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz explores a new sentiment around the NBA: that the 3-point shot is draining the game of the exact excitement it was meant to deliver. Then Pablo shares the story of a hockey mom who came to the rescue of a man who helped her kids on the ice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s March, and the 2021 Madness is almost here. Excited beyond belief after a cancelled 2020 tournament, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf is your guide. What’s happened with the bluebloods, as Duke, Kentucky, and Michigan State fight to make it to the Big Dance? Which standout stars might lead their teams to glory? Will 24-0 Gonzaga hold onto its dominance? How have the starts and stops of this pandemic season helped or hurt contenders? Then, Pablo breaks down Dak Prescott’s new deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fifty years ago today, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met in their first iconic boxing match, known as “The Fight of the Century.” It was 1971, with the civil rights movement in full swing and the nation divided over the war in Vietnam. Jeremy Schaap, boxing historian and host of E60 and Outside the Lines, shares how political and cultural views were projected onto Ali and Frazier, with their different personalities, history and fighting styles. The night itself was a grand celebrity spectacle (Frank Sinatra took a gig as a photographer, just to get in the building). And while Frazier won unanimously, the fight has a more complex and nuanced legacy. Half a century later, it remains one of sports’ biggest moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s massive 14-year, 340 million dollar deal with the Padres shattered MLB records. But it’s actually not the most important signing of the Padres this offseason. That belongs to Matt LaChappa, who signed with the team again in February, just as he has every year for more than a quarter-century. It’s a baseball story unlike any other: LaChappa is the longest tenured player in Padres history, despite never playing in a major league game. In 1996, LaChappa was a pitcher with San Diego’s minor league affiliate, when he suffered a heart attack while warming up in the bullpen. LaChappa survived, was left permanently disabled and in need of round-the-clock and costly medical care. Ever since, every offseason, the Padres have honored their commitment to Matt and his family by signing him a basic minor league contract, allowing Matt to remain on the team’s health insurance. In a sport where money and loyalty between players and clubs are constantly put to the test, Chris Connelly joins the show to tell a very different kind of baseball story Then, Pablo shares his excitement (or lack thereof) for this weekend’s NBA All-Star festivities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At just 25 years old, Claressa Shields might already be the best women’s boxer of all time. The Flint, Michigan native is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. She’s undefeated in her professional career. And she’s already won titles in three different weight divisions. But this Friday, she is attempting something that could fundamentally change the entire sport. Shields is headlining the first ever all-female pay-per-view boxing card...and doing it without the backing of a major broadcast network. She’s hoping to prove that women’s boxing can draw viewers and put female fighters on a path to one day making the same money as their male counterparts. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein joins the show to tell us about Claressa Shields’ rise as a fighter and how the trail she is blazing might take her to a whole new sport entirely. Then, Pablo reflects on his beloved New York Knicks in their current, fleeting moment of triumph. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight James Harden enters his former basketball home, Houston’s Toyota Center, as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. It’s his first time facing the Rockets since his very messy trade in January. After a slow start, Harden and the Nets are thriving. He’s notched seven triple doubles in their recent eight-game winning streak. And that’s even with star Kevin Durant sitting out for injury. ESPN’s Malika Andrews explains how Harden has gone from being a bonus for the Nets, to a reliable asset and leader. Then, Pablo interviews new co-owner of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Chicago Red Stars, Sarah Spain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meet Azzi Fudd, number one women’s high school basketball player in the nation. Fudd has won medals for USA basketball, was the first sophomore to win Gatorade National Player of the Year, and dominated Steph Curry’s camp as one of only two girls participating. Despite her unlimited potential, Fudd has endured setbacks, from major injury to the loss of friends and mentors, including Gigi and Kobe Bryant. Katie Barnes shares their ESPN Cover Story, “Azzi Fudd is Unbreakable,” about the young star’s journey and next steps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL quarterback carousel is in full rotation. Russell Wilson reportedly hasn’t requested a trade, but may want out of Seattle. The Deshaun Watson Texans saga has hit a stalemate. Carson Wentz has been shipped off from Philly to Indianapolis. And there are more marquee names likely on the move. Bill Barnwell makes a triumphant return to help us make sense of this chaotic offseason. Then, Pablo reflects on Renee Montgomery as the first former WNBA player to become a team owner and executive, buying a stake in the Atlanta Dream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Utah Jazz are surprisingly the best team in the NBA. After demolishing the Los Angeles Lakers this week, the Jazz claimed the top spot in the Western Conference -- while the Philadelphia 76ers reign in the East. However, this season is far from over. ESPN’s senior NBA writer Zach Lowe joins the show to dissect the biggest NBA storylines in his midseason report, including potential trades. Then Brian Windhorst returns for an update on NBA Top Shot, where more than $200 million dollars has now traded hands for “digital collectibles.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a hockey story that spans from Manhattan to Moscow. Here in America, Artemi Panarin is a star winger, an MVP candidate, and arguably the best player on the New York Rangers. But back home in Russia, the 29-year-old is something far more dangerous: the most vocal athlete opponent of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Today, Emily Kaplan explains the explosive accusations that have sidelined Panarin from the National Hockey League. Then, The Washington Post’s Moscow correspondent, Isabelle Khurshudyan, gives us the view on Panarin from inside Russia...and whether the Kremlin could actually be involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Tuesday morning, Tiger Woods was involved in a serious car accident outside of Los Angeles, where he was taken to a hospital to treat his injuries. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne brings us the latest from her reporting on the scene. Then, another listen to Pablo’s conversation with ESPN’s Lauren Stowell about her documentary on Tiger Woods, “America’s Son.” She re-examines “Tigermania,” which only grew after Woods’ Masters win in 1997, through the prisms of race and history. “America’s Son” can be screened on ESPN+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year's CBA should have been a defining moment for DeMaurice Smith and the labor force of America's most popular sport. Instead, some players -- and some owners -- have come to see Smith as an asset to management. Don Van Natta explains Smith’s negotiations with the NFL on behalf of the players union…and whether or not Smith is ultimately in an unwinnable position. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MLB spring training is upon us! After a long offseason of big trades and bigger contracts being signed, baseball has finally returned. The defending World Series champion Dodgers bolstered their already deep rotation by signing Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer, but the biggest threat to their potential dynasty might be 122 miles down the 5 Freeway. The Padres locked up Fernando Tatis for the next 14 years in addition to adding Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Blake Snell to their pitching rotation. In the American League, the Yankees are poised to finally get over the hump…if they can stay healthy. Jeff Passan joins us to break down everything we need to know about spring training. Then, Pablo reflects on Naomi Osaka’s speaking against violence toward Asian-Americans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Italian town of Bergamo is fiercely loyal to its soccer team, Atalanta B.C. As the perennial underdogs made a run to the Champions League 2020 quarterfinals, Atalanta drew tens of thousands of Bergamo fans to hug, cry, sing and celebrate for their win. No one knew then it was the last time they’d gather like that. Just as fans returned to their homes, Bergamo became an epicenter of coronavirus infection that led to thousands of deaths. Sam Borden tells the story of how a tight-knit culture and fandom made Bergamo vulnerable to the pandemic. And how that very closeness, along with the hope of cheering Atalanta again, offers a path forward from devastating loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pelicans star Zion Williamson has starred in almost super-humanlike highlights in his young NBA career, but are they worth hundreds of thousands of dollars? It’s a concept that the NBA is banking on, with their newest digital memorabilia venture: NBA Top Shot, a marketplace that is something of a cross between trading cards and Bitcoin. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst explains what NBA Top Shot is, its value, and the risks involved when entering the volatile world of crypto. Then, a preview of Friday’s show: where Sam Borden takes us to Bergamo, Italy, a sports-crazed town devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

University of Connecticut freshman Paige Bueckers has notched three straight 30-point games. This historic run has placed her in conversation with all-time great UConn stars like Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart. Could she catapult to greatest UConn player...ever? ESPN’s LaChina Robinson breaks down how Paige makes plays. Then, over in the WNBA, it’s a hot free agency season. Candace Parker left L.A. after more than a decade. The Liberty signed Natasha Howard. And there are more major moves to discuss. And Howard University men’s basketball coach Kenny Blakeney explains why his team cancelled the rest of their season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The late John Thompson Jr. was one of the most legendary coaches in the history of college basketball. As head coach at Georgetown, Thompson was the first Black coach to win a championship. And his towering influence off the court might even surpass his basketball success. Jesse Washington joins the show to remember Coach Thompson's impact and share stories from their co-authored autobiography, "I Came As A Shadow." And check out the new initiative from ESPN and The Undefeated, Black History Always. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL's concussion settlement set terms for compensating retired players who show cognitive impairment after playing football. But two NFL veterans have taken legal action because they say the claims process discriminates against Black players, making it harder for them to be compensated. Ryan Smith joins the show to discuss the cases of Najeh Davenport and Kevin Henry, why and how race was factored into their claims, and how the NFL has responded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NASCAR is back this weekend, with the 63rd running of The Great American Race...The Daytona 500. But the excitement this year is tempered by the sobering reminder that it’s the 20th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt. When Earnhardt died in an accident on the final lap of Daytona in 2001, the tragedy finally prompted a change in NASCAR that many thought was long overdue. Safety standards and equipment designed to prevent the type of injury that killed Earnhardt became widely adopted. There may not be a bigger example of how far the sport has come than last year’s Daytona 500, when Ryan Newman’s car flipped, was driven through, and landed upside down in a fiery collision during the final lap. Many first believed that Newman had died, but he walked out of the hospital two days later, largely due to the additional safety measures put in place in the wake of Earnhardt’s death. ESPN’s Ryan McGee joins us to talk about the latest E:60 film, “Intimidator,” examining Earnhardt’s legacy and how his death changed NASCAR forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a heist story straight out of Hollywood, about a thief who would make Danny Ocean proud. Who is this criminal mastermind, who stole the New York Giants’ Super Bowl rings? Meet Sean Murphy: a die-hard Patriots fan, owner of a moving company, and a self-described master thief. He, like many Pats fans, watched in agony as the New York Giants pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history in 2008. A few months later, Murphy was researching local jewelers for a potential target when he came across E.A. Dion, a family-owned business…who also happened to be making the Giants’ Super Bowl rings. From there, a super-sized heist was put into motion. ESPN correspondent Sam Borden joins us to take a look back at how Murphy pulled off the steal...and how he got caught. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is perhaps the most overlooked superstar in the NBA. At age 24, Booker is the only active NBA player with a 70 point game, and his dominating eight game stretch in the NBA Bubble this summer earned him a reputation as one of the league’s premiere scorers. ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon takes us back to Booker’s roots in the latest “Cover Story, ” and chronicles the Gen-Z phenom’s path from 6th man at Kentucky, to his connection with Kobe Bryant, to his relationship with new teammate Chris Paul. Then, a close read of Tom Brady’s Instagram as he basked in his reaffirmed G.O.A.T status. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Calvin Johnson is officially a Pro Football Hall of Famer! Johnson (a.k.a. “Megatron”) spent nine seasons with the Detroit Lions, and is regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. During his NFL career, he sought solutions for pain management and found cannabis. He’s now teamed up with former Lion Rob Sims for a new post-NFL chapter: a cannabis startup. ESPN Detroit Lions reporter Mike Rothstein joins us to explain Johnson’s relationship with his old team five years after his retirement, and go behind the scenes of his new venture. Then, Howard Bryant shares a remembrance for the late Pedro Gomez, the beloved ESPN baseball reporter who passed away this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Super Bowl champions! Tampa’s defense held the Chiefs to three field goals, while Gronk and Brady’s historic connection catapulted the Bucs to victory. Despite Patrick Mahomes’ acrobatic throws on the run while battling a lingering foot injury, the KC offense looked lackluster. And the Chiefs’ defense had no answer for Brady, who’s now earned his seventh Super Bowl ring. Plus we had (some) fans in the stands, an eye-popping halftime show by The Weeknd, and even a fan on the field. Bill Barnwell takes us through the biggest factors in the Big Game. Then Pablo pays homage to basketball scout Tom Konchalski, known for his hand-mailed newsletters and commitment to his craft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a bonus episode on the eve of Super Bowl LV, we are respinning our December show on Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. In February 2020, Duvernay-Tardif was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV...and then, everything changed. With the world coming to a standstill as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Duvernay-Tardif, the only player in the NFL today with a medical degree, immediately took action and began working at a long-term healthcare facility in his native Quebec. In July, Duvernay-Tardif became the first NFL player to opt out of the 2020-21 regular season to continue his efforts on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. Canada's TSN feature producer Matt Dorman has covered Duvernay-Tardif’s singular journey up-close, and shares his remarkable story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Super Bowl LV is finally here! After a turbulent season, Tom Brady and his newfound Bucs host Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who are seeking their second-straight title. What’s changed for these teams since they met in Week 12? Do the Bucs have a new plan to stop the Chiefs’ explosive offense? And can Tom Brady walk away with yet another Super Bowl ring? Mina Kimes brings us her insights and previews the big game. Then, 50 years ago astronaut Alan Shepard’s took a golf shot on the surface of the moon. Victoria Nenno of the US Golf Association Museum details the only out-of-this-world sports moment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Love him or hate him, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is one of the best in the NFL. But beyond the flamboyance and flash, there’s a side most people haven’t seen...especially when it comes to his big brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce. Ahead of Travis’s second-straight Super Bowl appearance, Lisa Salters brings us inside the relationship between the two brothers. In fact, Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target may never have made it to the league if not for big brother Jason’s interventions along the way. Then, director Ken Rodgers explains how he used deepfake technology to bring former Raiders owner Al Davis and former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle “back to life” for the new 30 for 30 film “Al Davis vs. The NFL.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Sunday, Tom Brady will make his tenth Super Bowl appearance, where he’s seeking his seventh ring. It’s a season that began with doubts about whether Brady could succeed away from New England and Bill Belichick...and has only strengthened his case as the greatest QB of All-Time. Seth Wickersham has covered Brady up-close for two decades, and joins the show to explain how Brady’s acknowledgment of his own limitations on the field has led him to a career of seemingly unlimited success. Then, Doug Kezirian takes us inside the incredibly popular, sometimes bizarre world of Super Bowl prop bets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices