The Lead

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 the often-injured star can potentially bring home an MVP. Follow Derek Bodner’s coverage of the Sixers: https://theathletic.com/author/derek-bodner/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 has played with, and he joins us today to talk about what makes Becky Hammon special as a coach, what Gregg Popovich sees in her, and what might come next in her coaching career.Read Chris Kamrani's story about Becky Hammon:https://theathletic.com/2333024/2021/01/20/becky-hammon-san-antonio-spurs-nba-coach/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 with the trade, and what makes him well-prepared to take on this challenge. Read Bob Kravitz’s story about Caris LeVert: https://theathletic.com/2333015/2021/01/19/kravitz-caris-levert-approaches-health-news-as-another-bump-in-the-road/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 in Philadelphia, joined us to talk about how the city helped make Kobe the competitor that he was, but didn’t show him much love until the very end.Read Michael Lee's original story:https://theathletic.com/1585634/2020/02/05/he-was-really-philly-kobe-bryant-had-a-complex-relationship-with-philly-but-deserves-its-adoration/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field, how the Chiefs cruised past the Bills to repeat as AFC champions, and why it’ll be hard to look away from this year’s Super Bowl QB matchup.More from Arif Hasan: https://theathletic.com/author/arif-hasan/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 tight end, and the bond that he has formed with George Kittle and Rodgers along the way. Read Dan Pompei’s story about Robert Tonyan: https://theathletic.com/2320298/2021/01/14/robert-tonyan-packers-playoffs/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 playing the best basketball of his life before the injury, and where McCollum and the Blazers go from here. Follow Jason Quick’s coverage of the Blazers: https://theathletic.com/author/jason-quick/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 to explain what exactly happened between Porter and the foreign reporter, how the incident is impacting the Mets, and who might have known about Porter’s behavior before he was hired.Read Brittany Ghiroli's column about Jared Porter and the challenges of being a woman sports reporter:https://theathletic.com/2332861/2021/01/19/ghiroli-be-nice-female-reporters/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League MVP in back-to-back years. The Athletic's Scott Burnside spent some time with LaFreniere in the buildup to the current NHL season, and Scott joins us to explain what makes LaFreniere so special, how he has looked in his first two NHL games, and the unique challenges he'll face playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.Read Scott Burnside's profile of Alexis LaFreniere:https://theathletic.com/2268371/2020/12/31/new-york-rangers-alexis-lafreniere-2021-nhl-season/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 and editors from The Athletic and asked them to share their own memories of Lasorda — including the baseball moments they remember fondly, some of his well-documented flaws, and all the things that made him Tommy Lasorda. Read The Athletic’s collection of Tommy Lasorda stories: https://theathletic.com/2311016/2021/01/08/tommy-lasorda-memories/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 we break down how Harden will will fit in with Nets superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (if he ever resurfaces) as well as head coach Steve Nash.More from Sam Amick:https://theathletic.com/author/sam-amick/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. With Thompson now out with an achilles injury, could rookie James Wiseman be the missing piece of a championship puzzle? Or would they be better off trading the young star for someone who could help them win now? The Athletic's Anthony Slater joins us to discuss all of that, plus a look at how Wiseman has been developing so far in the pros.More from Anthony Slater:https://theathletic.com/2297714/2021/01/06/warriors-james-wiseman-penny-hardaway/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Saban earn his record seventh national title. The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach joins us to break down the action, to discuss the incredible performance of wide receiver DeVonta Smith, and to reflect on the strangest college football season in recent memory.More from Nicole Auerbach: https://theathletic.com/author/nicole-auerbach/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 story lines and takeaways, including how the Browns engineered a win over the Steelers without their head coach — and what to expect when they take on Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.Follow Arif Hasan’s coverage of the NFL: https://theathletic.com/author/arif-hasan/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar to look at why Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have made such a dramatic shift in playing style, and how the whole thing is sitting with their franchise QB. Follow Michael-Shawn Dugar’s coverage of the Seahawks: https://theathletic.com/author/michael-shawn-dugar/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 down the story of the Saints' 2020 season so far, what to watch for in their first-round matchup with the Bears, and why so much is riding on this postseason run.More from Larry Holder:https://theathletic.com/author/larry-holder/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 joins us to break down the setup — and consider whether this is the future of televised sports. Read Richard Deitsch’s story about Kevin Harlan’s basement studio: https://theathletic.com/2290109/2020/12/29/kevin-harlan-basement-nba-broadcast-studio/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Zach Harper:https://theathletic.com/author/zach-harper/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 will have to do to succeed in the playoffs.More from Lindsay Jones:https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Ghiroli spoke with us about Mo’s brief, incredible life and a moment after his death that she will never forget.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 won the title and the scene that unfolded after third baseman Justin Turner tested positive for Covid-19.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 2020, we’re revisiting that story today. The Athletic’s Michael Lee spoke with us about how things unfolded on that day and why the events in Kenosha were hitting NBA players particularly hard.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 gone to such great lengths to conceal its location, and what she discovered in her own quest to find it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 from fans and sponsors -- and the sudden resignation of U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 our look back at 2020, we’re rebroadcasting our episode about how that night unfolded.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 the year in sports, we're replaying that episode, which was recorded shortly after the team's historic win.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 city of Los Angeles, the basketball community, and the world.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 how his resume as a two-time MVP has helped him earn the respect of Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. Follow Alex Schiffer’s coverage of the Nets: https://theathletic.com/author/alex-schiffer/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 comes next for him and the Tigers, and why the star QB deserves real consideration for college football's top individual honor.More from Grace Raynor:https://theathletic.com/author/grace-raynor/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 basketball court. (Note: A popular Baha Men song from circa 2000 may or may not also be discussed.)Read Zac Boyer's story about Teresa VanDerveer:https://theathletic.com/2256172/2020/12/15/tara-vanderveer-stanford-wins-record-womens-basketball/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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, and to discuss the larger-than-life personality and unforgettable stories that the big man brings to New Orleans (including one decision that would make many sneakerheads cringe). Read all of Will Guillory’s stories about Steven Adams: https://theathletic.com/2246775/2020/12/08/steven-adams-pelicans-center-personality/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Mourinho's remarkable coaching journey, why he and Tottenham are now clicking, and what continued success will mean for his reputation -- and the sport.More from Jack Pitt-Brooke:https://theathletic.com/author/jack-pitt-brooke/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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, and just how far this team’s high-powered offense could take them. Read Matt Schneidman’s story about the Austin Powers-Green Bay Packers connection: https://theathletic.com/2232543/2020/12/03/how-an-austin-powers-character-inspired-the-packers-red-zone-offense/?source=theleadpodcast 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 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 the team, and why he's likely to flourish under Wizards head coach Scott Brooks.More from Fred Katz:https://theathletic.com/2249306/2020/12/09/russell-westbrook-scott-brooks-reunion/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 opened up further about her experience to The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer. Today, we’re joined by both Pablo and Skyler to talk about what Skyler says happened to her at NYCFC, how it impacted her, and the response she has received since speaking out publicly.Read Pablo Maurer's story about Skyler Badillo, David Villa, and NYCFC:https://theathletic.com/2213536/2020/11/23/david-villa-nycfc-alleged-harassment/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 that his coach, Ryan Saunders, and teammate, Ricky Rubio, could play as he tries to move forward. Read Jon Krawczynski’s story about Karl-Anthony Towns: https://theathletic.com/2240589/2020/12/05/karl-anthony-towns-timberwolves-covid/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Dan Pompei's profile of Aaron Glenn:https://theathletic.com/2229281/2020/12/01/saints-aaron-glenn-nfl-coaching-candidate/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 joins us to remember that historic day, to explain how Cosell became the one to break such a big story, and to reflect on the unlikely friendship between these two countercultural icons.Read Rustin Dodd's story about John Lennon and Howard Cosell:https://theathletic.com/author/rustin-dodd/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 at all of the issues that have derailed the 49ers season — including the recent news that they have to play their upcoming home games in Arizona — and how Kyle Shanahan’s team has managed to stay alive. Follow Matt Barrows’s coverage of the 49ers: https://theathletic.com/author/matt-barrows/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 stranger games in NFL history, how the Ravens held up in these challenging circumstances, and what the game revealed about the league’s approach to dealing with the coronavirus.Follow Lindsay Jones's NFL coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 baseball skill set to football, and whether the star QB still has a chance to win the Heisman. Read Bill Landis’s story about the impact of baseball for Justin Fields: https://theathletic.com/2196977/2020/11/16/justin-fields-ohio-state-buckeyes-quarterback-baseball/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 a team, and how his rare friendship with Kawhi Leonard could be the missing ingredient to solve the chemistry issues that plagued the team last year. Read Jovan Buha’s story about Serge Ibaka and Kawhi Leonard: https://theathletic.com/2213637/2020/11/22/serge-ibaka-clippers-kawhi-leonard/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 his fair share of critics. The Athletic’s Ed Malyon, who got his start as a football journalist in Argentina, joins us to discuss why Maradona is such a transcendent figure there, and why we will never see someone quite like him again.More from Ed Malyon:https://theathletic.com/author/ed-malyon/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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, and how Bronco's rookie wide receiver and usual practice squad member Kendall Hinton did when he suited up for Denver at quarterback due to Covid concerns.More from Arif Hasan:https://theathletic.com/author/arif-hasan/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 focus. (This episode originally aired June 30, 2020.)Read Seth Davis's profile of Okongwu:https://theathletic.com/1898877/2020/06/30/heralded-but-not-hyped-onyeka-okongwu-moves-to-the-top-of-his-nba-draft-class/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Athletic’s Chris Vannini tells us Charlton’s story. (This episode originally aired on July 10, 2020)Read Chris Vannini’s story about Alex Charlton: https://theathletic.com/1917145/2020/07/10/alex-charlton-midwestern-state-football-coach-nurse-covid-19-new-york/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 small school in Spokane, Washington grew into a perennial powerhouse, and why this Zags team is well positioned to win a national championship -- if the season makes it that far.More from Dana O'Neil:https://theathletic.com/author/dana-oneil/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 has had on the team dramatically transforming its identity. Read Zak Keefer’s story about Matt Eberflus: https://theathletic.com/2204578/2020/11/18/matt-eberflus-bet-on-himself-then-became-one-of-the-nfls-best-coordinators/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.