Sports Illustrated Weekly

In the Sicilian suburb of Librino, an upstart rugby club defies Mafia violence and forges an identity for their community. Sean Williams traveled to the foot of Mount Etna and brought back the story of Briganti di Librino. SI Daily Cover, A Rugby Club Vs. the Mafia | The Underworld Podcast With rumors swirling that Urban Meyer is set to take a job at Fox, everyone, including Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, is taking shots at Meyer’s short and disastrous stint on the NFL sidelines. SI staffer Conor Orr is here to review the long list of problems that led to Meyer being fired after just 13 games. Article, Urban Meyer Is Bringing Nothing to the Jaguars When Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant suffered a knee injury against the Warriors, he was playing some of the best basketball of anyone in the playoffs — continuing on his incredible season. SI staffer Michael Pina joins us to discuss Ja’s leap to superstardom. Daily Cover, Behind Ja Morant’s Sudden Ascent to NBA SuperstardomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kentucky Derby is this weekend, but one of the sport’s most notable—and notorious—figures won’t be there. Bob Baffert has had more than 30 of his horses fail drug tests and was subsequently banned from Churchill Downs for two years due to doping allegations. Sports Illustrated senior writer Pat Forde joins us to discuss the controversial horse trainer. Pat Forde on SI.com The Netflix show Cheer took viewers inside the world of competitive cheerleading and made stars out of its athletes and coaches. Our producer Jess Yarmosky sits down with the Queen of Cheer, Monica Aldama, to discuss winning her latest national championship and the sport’s explosion in popularity. Cheer on Netflix | Cheer Tour | 2022 Navarro College winning routine MLB teams are using the shift more than ever. SI staffer Emma Baccellieri explains why that is, why the shift is so effective—and why baseball is changing the rules next season. The Last Hurrah of Infield Shifts Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, the NFL said an investigation found "no evidence" to support the allegations of tanking made by former Browns head coach Hue Jackson. The team went 3-36-1 during Jackson's stint with the team and he believes the Browns front office should share some of that blame. Despite the league investigation clearing the Browns, that doesn't mean the team is innocent of the accusations made against the franchise. SI Staffers Conor Orr and Gary Gramling reviewed more than 1000 documents pertaining to the case. Unsurprisingly, they reached some very different conclusions than the NFL. Hear Conor and Gary on The MMQB Podcast @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NFL draft is upon us, and ESPN’s Mina Kimes joins us for a primer on the big event happening in Las Vegas. The Mina Kimes Show Featuring Lenny When Troy Aikman left Fox for ESPN, it set off a chain reaction in the NFL broadcast booth for multiple networks. Jimmy Traina, host of the SI Media Podcast, breaks down the game of musical chairs involving Al Michaels, Joe Buck and more. Sports Illustrated Media Podcast WNBA star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for two months. We have a report from Howard Megdal on Griner’s situation and how it has impacted the way women’s basketball operates. Daily Cover, How Russia Pushed the WNBA to a Crossroads Follow @podcasts_si & @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 3rd of last year, Gene Siller went to work at the Pinetree Country Club to help staff set up for Independence Day celebrations. Unfortunately, he never made it back home, leaving his wife without a husband and his kids without a father. The story made headlines at the time, but none have gone as deep as a new piece from Sports Illustrated contributing writer Brian Burnsed. Article, He Followed His Golf Dream. In the End, It Was a Nightmare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best-selling author Michael Lewis is here some 20 years after he began the reporting on Moneyball. Season 3 of his podcast Against the Rules is titled “The Ballad of Expertise.”  Podcast, Against the Rules SI senior writer Michael Rosenberg reads his essay on how authoritarian regimes like China, Russia and Saudi Arabia use sports for their political benefit, also known as sportswashing. Daily Cover, Sportswashing Is Everywhere, but It’s Not New Whether or not you drink coffee, you’re probably not nearly as into it as Jimmy Butler. SI staffer Rohan Nadkarni tells us just how much the Heat star really loves coffee. Article, Jimmy Butler, the NBA's Biggest Coffee Aficionado Follow @podcasts_si & @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NBA playoffs are here, and we have our Eastern and Western Conference playoff previews. Get comfortable for our extended and extensive conversation with SI senior writers Chris Mannix and Howard Beck. Mannix and Beck on The Crossover podcast Barely a year removed from a car crash that could have killed him, Tiger Woods surprised a lot of people by playing in the Masters. SI senior writer Stephanie Apstein joins us for her report on how Woods looked at Augusta. Article, Tiger Woods Recognizes This Masters Was One of His Great Achievements—Among Non-Wins Follow @podcasts_si | Follow @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major League Baseball has its Opening Day on Thursday. We have the SI baseball braintrust gathered for a roundtable: senior writers Tom Verducci and Stephanie Apstein and editor Matt Martell. They’ll tell us what’s exciting about this season, what’s wrong with baseball, and what’s changed forever after the lockout. Sports Illustrated MLB coverage | @si_mlb on Twitter With the nightly implosion of LeBron’s Lakers, HBO lures us into Showtime-era nostalgia with their hit-in-waiting, Winning Time. We welcome Jordan Ligons of the Spinsters podcast and The Ringer’s TV critic Alison Herman to answer a simple question: Is Winning Time any good? And is anyone watching? HBO Max | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (YouTube) Dirk Nowitzki entered the NBA in 1998 with no shortage of hype. Twenty-one seasons later, collecting an MVP award in 2007 and the Larry O’Brien trophy with a Finals MVP in ’11, it’s safe to say he lived up to the hype and then some. Howard Beck had Dirk on The Crossover podcast and took a few minutes to ask about his history with SI. SI Vault: Fast Developing After A Rookie Year in Which the Negatives Prevailed, the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki Looks Like a Budding Star by Jon Wertheim The Great Nowitzki: Basketball and the Meaning of Life by Thomas PletzingerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments each feature 64 teams—and 64 mascots. But while you might have love for your school, Conor Orr has consulted with Dr. Hopi Hoekstra, noted mammalogist at Harvard University, and he’s here to tell you why your mascot is a lie. SI Daily Cover: Fuzzy Logic by Hopi Hoekstra and Conor Orr The South Carolina Gamecocks are one of the best teams in women’s basketball, and they’re once again headed back to the Final Four. SI staffer Wilton Jackson talked to star player Aliyah Boston on the quest for a championship, her journey from Saint Thomas to South Carolina and her ever-changing personal style. Article: She Wanted a Scholarship. Now She’s the Face of Women’s College Basketball Finally, the story of one lucky college basketball gambler who turned a single $25 parlay bet into more than $237,000. We call him the Parlay King of New Jersey. @podcasts_si on Twitter | SI.com/podcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With DeShaun Watson being traded to the Cleveland Browns, former Sports Illustrated staffer Jenny Vrentas, now a reporter for The New York Times, walks us through her reporting on the controversial quarterback and the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. SI Daily Cover: A Massage Therapist on Her Session With Deshaun Watson SI Daily Cover: The Problems in the Deshaun Watson Cases Go Beyond Deshaun Watson Jenny Vrentas’s reporting for The New York Times After Russia invaded, thousands of Ukrainians who weren’t in the armed forces took up arms to defend their country—including several current and former professional athletes. One of them was recently retired tennis star Sergiy Stakhovsky. We spoke with Stakhovsky, as well as SI senior writer Jon Wertheim, about what it’s been like for Ukrainian athletes who’ve joined the fight. SI Article: Alex Dolgopolov, From ATP to Defending Ukraine: ‘Maybe I’ll Be Killed, Maybe I Have to Kill’ Finally, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice stops by to tell us about all the times he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, his new SI NFTs and what it’s like to be the GOAT after all the years. SI’s first NFT collection featuring Jerry Rice Get in touch with us on Twitter at @podcasts_siSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NCAA women's swimming and diving championships begin today in Atlanta and all eyes are on University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Robert Sanchez and Julie Kliegman join us to discuss the coverage, conversations and controversy surrounding Thomas and her rise to the top of women’s collegiate swimming. We’ll also hear exclusively from Lia Thomas in her own words. Daily Cover: ‘I Am Lia’: The Trans Swimmer Dividing America Tells Her Story by Robert Sanchez Daily Cover: Why Can't Luc Play? by Julie Kliegman With March Madness upon us, SI’s Kevin Sweeney explains why tiny Coppin State played almost all its games away from home this season. It’s the story of a never-ending season-long road trip that included 400-mile bus rides, 50-point losses and someone forgetting to pack their jerseys. Daily Cover: The College Road Trip From Hell by Kevin Sweeney Former SI staffer Grant Wahl is here to tell us how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has impacted the world of soccer, from Chelsea FC’s financial strictures to Vladimir Putin’s “sportswashing” and FIFA finally being forced to shut the door on Russia. Read Grant at GrantWahl.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With March Madness around the corner, Sports Illustrated senior writer Pat Forde tells us the story of Merl Code, a former sneaker executive who claims the biggest recruits to the biggest programs are all getting paid. We take you inside the scandal that rocked college basketball. Article: Merl Code Peels Back the Curtain on College Basketball’s Bribery Scandal by Pat Forde The fourth season of Netflix’s smash hit Formula 1: Drive to Survive drops this weekend. Formula One reporter and digital presenter Will Buxton joins us to explain how the show’s surprise success in the U.S. has created countless new fans and helped grow the sport. Article: Through the Fire and Flames by Shaker Samman Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network fills us in on the fallout over Falcons wideout Calvin Ridley and his season-long suspension for gambling. Article: Calvin Ridley’s Suspension Is NFL Business As Usual by Conor Orr Special thanks to Sean Sullivan of Yahoo Sports for the Merl Code audio. It originally appeared on the College Football Enquirer podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making it to the NBA is a dream come true. But for members of a small group, it also means playing exactly one minute and one minute only, before never playing in the league again. Sports Illustrated staff writer Ben Pickman tells the tale of perhaps the most exclusive and heartbreaking club in all of pro sports.SI Daily Cover: In It for a Minute by Ben PickmanJJ Redick is here to discuss the fallout from his Zion Williamson comments and what it was like to play with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and to share memories of Coach K as he eyes his final big dance.SI Vault: Boo Devil by Grant WahlFormer All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith, Sr. talks about the first time he was in Sports Illustrated for another edition of “Who Where They Then?”SI Vault: Steve Smith Rules by Greg BishopGet in touch @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Nolan is a TV personality who just finished covering the Olympics for NBC and Peacock. Katie joins our host John Gonzalez for a wide-ranging conversation that includes the Russian figure skating doping controversy, how we talk about athletes when they struggle with mental health issues, how she recently came to my rescue on Twitter and what’s next for her career.Clip: Kate Nolan tries figure skating on PeacockThe Olympics are over, but before SI senior writer Stephanie Apstein left Beijing, she reported a rather amusing story. Stephanie spoke to a whole host of Winter Olympians with one surprising thing in common: how much they really hate being cold.SI Daily Cover: ‘It’s a Necessary Evil of Doing a Snow Sport’Emma Baccellieri is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated who covers Major League Baseball. She’s also a fan of the Sex and the City reboot. And while MLB is still mired in a lockout, the show And Just Like That took Emma down an entertaining baseball rabbit hole that prompted her to solve an unexpected mystery.SI Daily Cover: How ‘Sex and the City’ Sent Me Down a Fake Baseball Rabbit HoleFollow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Stafford and the Rams are Super Bowl champions. But before they even got to the big game, there were whispers and rumors about the legendary trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, that ended up with Stafford being traded from Detroit to L.A. Sports Illustrated senior writer Greg Bishop pulls back the curtain and explains how a joint vacation and the fate of an unusual L.A. rainstorm changed the Rams’ fortunes and altered the course of NFL history.Related: How the Rams Got Away, Found One Another, Then Found a Way by Greg Bishop and Conor OrrPop culture and sports collide when actor-comedian Ben Schwartz and SI senior writer Chris Herring join us to discuss Chris’s new book, Blood in the Garden, our shared love of the ’90s NBA and the state of the Knicks franchise.Excerpt: Blood in the GardenBen Simmons and James Harden were part of a blockbuster trade during last week’s deadline. But how will Simmons look on the Nets? And will Harden finally make the Sixers a championship contender? Host John Gonzalez is joined by friends and former coworkers Haley O’Shaughnessy of the Spinsters podcast and Dan Devine of The Ringer for a reunion deep dive.Podcast: John Gonzalez on Spinsters Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend, Super Bowl LVI descends on Inglewood, Calif., and gleaming SoFi Stadium. For NFL fans with money to burn, this is the party of a lifetime. For the residents who never got a vote on this stadium, they’re left to deal with the aftermath. In conversations with residents, business owners, the mayor and more, our host John Gonzalez went to Inglewood to learn first-hand what’s happening to the people who live, work and worship there as so much in their city changes.Related story: SI Daily Cover: The True Price of SoFi StadiumWhen Brian Flores filed his recent lawsuit against the NFL and three teams, it yet again placed the spotlight on the league’s failure to hire Black candidates into its highest ranks of leadership. Despite 20 years of the Rooney Rule, GQ staff writer Tyler Tynes tells us why he’s not surprised at the current state of affairs and why this landmark lawsuit is about so much more than Brian Flores.Related story: The Ringer: ”You’re Going to Have to Run Faster”: How Football Neglects Black Coaches”Chris Wesseling, known to his friends as “Wess,” was a host of the popular Around the NFL podcast. A lifelong Bengals fan, Wess would have relished a Super Bowl matchup with his wife Lakisha’s favorite Rams. Sadly, Wess died of cancer last year. His wife and ATN co-hosts Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler join John and his wife, Colleen Wolfe, of the NFL Network, to mark one year since Wess died and honor their dear friend.Related story: Cincinnati Enquirer: Chris Wesseling, NFL.com writer and podcaster from Cincinnati, dies at 46SI.com/podcasts | twitter.com/podcasts_si Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Jackson grew up competing in inline skating and roller derby as a rink rat in Ocala, Fla. Now, she’s America’s best hope for gold in long-track speed skating at the Winter Olympics. Considered a sure bet to make the U.S. team, Jackson slipped during qualifying and nearly missed the games until a fateful decision made by her childhood idol, Brittany Bowe, gave her a ticket to back to the Olympics. Senior writer Stephanie Apstein wrote SI’s cover story on Erin Jackson and tells us about her incredible journey from Florida to Beijing.SI Cover story: Erin Jackson Is Ready to Make a Statement on IceAs the sports spotlight shifts to Beijing, not all invited guests are showing up to the party. Along with Great Britain, Canada and Australia, the United States is enacting a “diplomatic boycott” of the Beijing games, which means no government officials will attend, though athletes will still compete. With critics like French President Emmanuel Macron dismissing these efforts as “insignificant,” Ben Rhodes is here to tell us why the conversation around these Beijing games is already very different from 2008, the last time China hosted the Olympics. Rhodes served as deputy national security adviser for the Obama administration, and he’s cohost of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the World.Follow SI Olympics CoverageBefore Michael Vick was a household name, he was a kid focused on football growing up in Newport News, Va. It’s at nearby Virginia Tech where SI first caught a glimpse of his star on the rise. Vick describes what life was like when he stood on the brink of being selected first in the 2001 NFL draft, fulfilling his and his family’s wildest dreams.SI Vault: Virginia Tech's Michael Vick Is a Marvel Without an Ego Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NBA star Shawn Bradley was living out an idyllic retirement in Utah until one day a tragic bike ride left him paralyzed when a driver hit him from behind. SI contributing writer Brian Burnsed is here to tell us how Bradley; his wife, Carrie; and their family have been forever changed by this experience.SI Daily Cover: Life After 7'6": Shawn Bradley, Paralyzed in a Bike Crash, Knows ‘It’ll Never Be the Same’Quarterbacks study the game of football and their competitors incessantly, so when a standout performer like Aaron Rogers develops a “foot pop” or Lamar Jackson starts bending his throws around defenders, players are bound to copy their moves. SI staff writer and mad genius Conor Orr delivers a treatise on the evolutionary development of quarterbacks with some solid blocking by world-renowned biologists from Harvard University.SI Cover story: In the Throws of ChangeOn the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death, we welcome Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, whose new book delves into what Kobe was like as a young phenom before he became a basketball legend. Sielski joins us to tell the entertaining story behind the unlikely college that almost landed Kobe before he decided to jump straight to the NBA. Excerpt, The Ones Kobe Left Behind Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Sports Illustrated Weekly, where we gather the best sports stories from inside and outside the pages of SI and deliver them to you in audio form every Wednesday.+ Our premiere tips off with SI Senior Writer Howard Beck who reports on the Golden State Warriors rebooting their dynasty with young players and an elite core still in its prime. Read: “The Warriors’ Quest to Achieve What Other Dynasties Couldn’t”, “The Fire That Burns Inside Klay Thompson”+ Then, SI Senior Writer Jon Wertheim walks us through a conversation with Tom Brady on the occasion of receiving our Sportsperson of the Year award for the second time. After 22 years in the NFL, is Brady's career worth another look? And could the GOAT actually play until he’s 50? Read: “2021 Sportsperson of the Year: Tom Brady”+ Finally, NFL legend Joe Thomas describes what it meant for him to be profiled in the pages of Sports Illustrated as a young offensive lineman. Read: “Old School” by Peter King, April 23, 2007Read SI.com and get in touch with us on Twitter at @podcasts_si. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing the new flagship podcast from Sports Illustrated. Storytelling, interviews, unforgettable sports moments – SI Weekly is everything you love about the iconic sports magazine, now in podcast form. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.