The Lead

The NWSL became the first professional U.S. sports league to resume play this week, kicking off the Challenge Cup, a month-long knockout tournament, in Utah. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to discuss what happened in the opening matches, a much-talked-about moment during the national anthem, and whether or not anyone can stop the North Carolina Courage.Follow Meg Linehan's coverage of the NWSL:https://theathletic.com/author/meg-linehan/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As coronavirus cases skyrocket in Florida, Tom Brady has been defying league health recommendations and working out with his Tampa Bay Buccaneer teammates at a local high school -- and posting about it on social media. The Athletic’s Greg Auman joins us to talk about Brady’s controversial training sessions and why they have become a lightning rod in a national debate over COVID-19.Read Greg Auman's story about the Brady workouts:https://theathletic.com/1893828/2020/06/25/as-workouts-with-bucs-continue-is-tom-brady-being-fearless-or-foolish/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There was some historic news out of Mississippi yesterday, as governor Tate Reeves signed a bill removing the Confederate emblem from the state flag. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David Ubben to discuss the role that college sports played in the change, from SEC head coaches Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach to Mississippi State's star running back Kylin Hill. Read David Ubben’s column about Kylin Hill and the Mississippi flag: https://theathletic.com/1897593/2020/06/28/kylin-hill-mississippi-state-flag-kansas-state-football-player-protest/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cam Newton is officially a member of the New England Patriots. And the Pats reportedly got the former NFL MVP at a bargain basement price.The Athletic’s Mike Sando joins us to talk about how the deal came about, what the Pats could look like with Cam at the helm, and what this signing tells us about Superman.More from Mike Sando:https://theathletic.com/author/mike-sando/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After months of bitter negotiations between MLB players and owners, an agreement was finally reached and the league is expected to begin a 60-game season in July. Doug Glanville, retired Major Leaguer and co-host of The Athletic's Starkville podcast, joins us to discuss the new rules that will be implemented during the abbreviated season, which teams are poised for success, and why this will almost certainly be the strangest season in MLB history.More from Doug Glanville:https://theathletic.com/author/doug-glanville/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re replaying one of our favorite episodes of The Lead, which originally aired back in February. It’s a virtual tour of the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City. The Athletic’s Nate Taylor was our eyes and ears, and he joined us to relay stories about Jackie Robinson, the rock star status of many Negro League players, and some of the women who made an impact on and off the field.Follow Nate Taylor's writing:https://theathletic.com/author/nate-taylor/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Warning: This episode contains details about alleged sexual abuse and might be emotionally upsetting for some listeners. Today, we are replaying a story that first aired on our show back in March. It’s about a hockey coach with a long history of child sexual assault accusations. Since this story was first reported by The Athletic’s Katie Strang, there have been several developments, including at least two investigation, and follow-up reporting by Katie, all of which are detailed at the end of this episode.Read Katie Strang's original story:https://theathletic.com/1851010/2020/06/03/chico-adrahtas-former-hockey-coach-accused-of-sexual-abuse-gets-lifetime-ban/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this month, Vince Carter announced his retirement from the NBA -- in the midst of the pandemic, and without getting to complete his final season. It was, as he put it, a weird way to end a career. The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner joined us back in March to discuss Vince Carter’s remarkable career, his final moments on an NBA court, and what he meant to the city of Toronto. (Original air date: March 20, 2020)Follow Chris Kirschner's Atlanta Hawks coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/chris-kirschner/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Liverpool has absolutely dominated the current Premier League season, and is on the brink of winning its first league title in three decades. The man responsible for much of that success is talismanic head coach Jurgen Klopp. The Athletic’s James Pearce joined us back in January to talk about Klopp’s unique combination of passion, tactics, and positivity (read: hugs), and how he has transformed both the club and the team. We are replaying that episode today. (Original air date: January 16, 2020)Follow James Pearce's Liverpool coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/james-pearce/?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, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he "encourages" an NFL team to sign Colin Kaepernick. This came after Goodell had expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement and said players have the right to peacefully protest. Now, many fans are wondering if an NFL team might actually sign Kaepernick, who that team would be, and how ready he would be to play. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue attended Kaepernick’s workout for NFL scouts last November, and we are re-airing that episode today. It originally aired on November 18th, 2019. Read Jourdan Rodrigue's original story on the Kaepernick workout:https://theathletic.com/1384295/2019/11/17/colin-kaepernick-cuts-through-a-chaotic-day-to-deliver-a-solid-workout/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eight years ago this summer, Penn State took down the controversial statue of former coach Joe Paterno — a statue that took on huge symbolic meaning in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Today, The Athletic’s Audrey Snyder joins us to discuss why Penn State has gone to such great lengths to keep the statue’s location a secret — and what she discovered during her own quest to find it. Follow Audrey Snyder’s coverage of Penn State football: https://theathletic.com/author/audrey-snyder/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the past few months, Gio Reyna has burst onto the scene with Borussia Dortmund. The son of U.S. Men's National Team legend Claudio Reyna and former University of North Carolina star Danielle Egan, Gio is very much American soccer royalty. The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal joins us to discuss the meteoric rise of the 17 year-old star-in-the-making, how he is following in the footsteps of fellow American Christian Pulisic, and how a family tragedy helps motivate him.Read Sam Stejskal and Raphael Honigstein's profile of Gio Reyna:https://theathletic.com/1802307/2020/05/09/giovanni-reyna-exclusive-claudio-usmnt-dortmund-bundesliga/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Since the killing of George Floyd, NHL players have been speaking up about things that often aren’t talked about in hockey. The Athletic’s Ryan Clark, who covers the Colorado Avalanche, joins us to talk about how recent protests and the Black Lives Matter movement are shifting the conversation about race in the NHL, and involving everyone from Evander Kane to Tyler Seguin to Sidney Crosby.Follow Ryan Clark's coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/ryan-s-clark/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Negotiations between MLB players and owners keep getting worse, and might now be past the point of no return. But last week, there was a heartwarming tale that emerged during the MLB draft. Today, as we await the fate of the 2020 season, we bring you the story of Ed Howard, one of the stars of the Little League team that won the U.S. title in 2014, only to have that title stripped away, and who has now been was drafted by a hometown Major League team.Read James Fegan's profile of Ed Howard:https://theathletic.com/1648837/2020/03/19/six-years-after-jackie-robinson-west-ed-howard-is-a-big-time-mlb-prospect/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just over a week ago, the NBA announced its plan for restarting the season at the end of July. But now, a group of players is trying to prevent that from happening. The Athletic’s Shams Charania joins us to talk about a Friday night phone call involving a large group of NBA players, including several superstars, and why some of them don’t think they should be playing basketball right now.Read Shams Charania's story about the phone call:https://theathletic.com/1866845/2020/06/12/sources-reveal-details-of-call-among-80-nba-players-led-by-kyrie-irving/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ten years ago this month, Armando Galarraga was one out away from a perfect game, when umpire Jim Joyce famously blew the call at first base. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen — who recently caught up with Galarraga, Joyce and former Tigers manager Jim Leyland — to hear their perspective on the missed call a decade later, and why Galarraga sometimes dreams about having the call reversed. Read Cody Stavenhagen’s story about Armando Galarraga’s almost perfect game: https://theathletic.com/1722128/2020/05/12/beyond-perfect-armando-galarraga-10-years-after-the-call/?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 Wednesday, NASCAR issued a statement saying that the Confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties. The organization said that the flag's presence runs contrary to its commitment to "providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for our fans, our competitors, and our industry." The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi joins us to discuss NASCAR’s complicated relationship with the flag, the way the sport has become politicized, and the driver who is using his race car to make a statement.Follow Jordan Bianchi's motorsports coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/jordan-bianchi/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Since the killing of George Floyd, many college football coaches have been having trouble finding the right words when it comes to sensitive topics like race and racism, and addressing problems in their programs. The Athletic’s Tashan Reed joins us to talk about what head coaches, from Dabo Swinney to Nick Saban, are saying and what's at stake as they navigate uncomfortable waters. We also discuss an assistant college football coach who is bringing hundreds of minority coaches together for solidarity and support, and facilitating difficult conversations between players.Read Tashan Reed's story about a new clinic for minority coaches:https://theathletic.com/1859028/2020/06/08/alonzo-carter-college-football-coaches-zoom-san-jose-state/?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, the basketball world lost a legend when Wes Unseld — the Hall of Famer who played for the Baltimore and Washington Bullets — died at the age of 74. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Fred Katz — who spoke with a number of Unseld’s teammates, including Phil Chenier and Bobby Dandridge — to look back at Unseld’s remarkable NBA career, and the physical play and unselfishness that defined him. Read Fred Katz’s story in remembrance of Wes Unseld: https://theathletic.com/1851770/2020/06/03/from-defense-to-contract-negotiations-wes-unselds-greatness-was-understated/?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 Friday, a day after an emotional video was released by a group of NFL superstars, Commissioner Roger Goodell made a dramatic statement on camera. He said that the league was wrong for not listening to NFL players' concerns about police brutality, and he encouraged players to speak out and peacefully protest. It was a dramatic about-face for the league, which had previously tried to ban players from protesting during the national anthem. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to tell the inside story of the video that forced Goodell to make this monumental shift, and how it was masterminded by an NFL employee who was fed up with the league and decided to go rogue.Read Lindsay Jones and Jourdan Rodrigue's insider account of how NFL players forced Roger Goodell's hand:https://theathletic.com/1857643/2020/06/06/inside-nfl-players-black-lives-matter-video-and-how-it-forced-goodells-hand/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Four years ago, Colin Kaepernick ignited a national debate that is once again in full swing in the wake of George Floyd's killing. But before Kaep took a knee during the national anthem, WNBA players were staging protests and aligning themselves with the Black Lives Matter movement. Today, The Athletic’s Gina Mizell joins us to talk about how that movement took hold and grew within the league. And we’ll hear about a current WNBA player, Bria Hartley, who was recently on the front line of protests in Minneapolis.Read Gina Mizell's story about Bria Hartley:https://theathletic.com/1850990/2020/06/03/by-peacefully-protesting-in-minneapolis-bria-hartley-seeks-better-world-for-son/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday is a big day for basketball fans, with the NBA’s Board of Governors set to vote on a proposed plan for the league to return to play. In other words, barring something unexpected, the NBA is coming back. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Shams Charania to discuss the details of the plan (22 teams playing at Disney World in Orlando), the impact of Adam Silver’s leadership, and how this move ultimately reflects on the NBA. Read Shams Charania’s story about the NBA’s plan to return: https://theathletic.com/1852061/2020/06/03/sources-reveal-details-of-adam-silvers-proposal-of-22-team-nba-restart-plan/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

MLB players and owners are still at an impasse over how many games the 2020 season will have and how much players will be paid. Some fear that the two sides are so far apart in negotiations that the season is now in serious jeopardy. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark joins us to discuss what this standoff is about and what’s at stake not just for the season, but for the future of the sport.Read Jayson Stark's story about the threat to the 2020 season:https://theathletic.com/1843384/2020/05/29/stark-memo-to-baseball-dont-drive-off-this-cliff/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As massive protests over the killing of George Floyd continue to erupt across the country, athletes have once again been at the center of an important national conversation. The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar joins us to talk about the athletes, coaches, and sports figures who are (and are not) speaking up, including everyone from Colin Kaepernick to Michael Jordan. We also discuss why this feels like a significant moment in the history of the country and of athlete activism.Follow Michael-Shawn Dugar's coverage of the NFL and more:https://theathletic.com/author/michael-shawn-dugar/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While pro sports in the U.S. remain on hold, overseas soccer leagues are picking up steam. After getting approval from the British government on Saturday, the Premier League is now officially scheduled to resume play on June 17th. The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to discuss what these games will look like, which teams could benefit from a new rule change, and who will claw their way into the Champions League.Follow Jack Pitt-Brooke's EPL coverage: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.

Ten years ago today, Phillies ace Roy Halladay made baseball history by throwing just the second perfect game in team history and 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. The Athletic's Matt Gelb joins us to remember that remarkable performance, to talk about Halladay’s tragic death in a plane crash three years ago, and to discuss the unexpected gift that the star pitcher gave to teammates and others in the organization.Read Matt Gelb's story about Roy Halladay:https://theathletic.com/1832548/2020/05/26/the-perfect-game-gift-with-time-roy-halladay-watches-mean-more-to-phillies/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Tuesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the regular season was officially over, and the league would go directly to a new playoff format when play resumes -- perhaps as early as late July or early August. The Athletic’s Craig Custance joins us to discuss this new, 24-team postseason format, which teams could benefit, and why the level of play actually might be higher than what fans are used to.Follow Craig Custance's NHL coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/craig-custance/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Newcastle United is in the process of being purchased by a new ownership group, led by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. MBS, as he is known, is widely believed to have ordered the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, an incident that sparked international outrage. James Montague, an author and contributing writer for The Athletic, joins us to discuss the highly polarizing takeover and one woman’s quest to stop it from happening.Read James Montague's story about Newcastle's potential new owners:https://theathletic.co.uk/1788335/2020/05/02/why-does-saudi-arabia-want-to-buy-newcastle-united/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the start of Memorial Day weekend, the basketball world lost an icon when Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan died at the age of 78. Sloan coached the Utah Jazz for 23 years, leading them to 19 postseason appearances, and back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Today, we're joined by Tony Jones of The Athletic to discuss Sloan's life and legacy, including the legendary toughness — and loyalty — that defined him throughout his career.Read Tony Jones's tribute to Jerry Sloan: https://theathletic.com/1819959/2020/05/22/remembering-jerry-sloan-1942-2020/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Warning: This episode contains graphic material related to sexual assault that may not be suitable for all audiences.Sarah Klein is one of the first known victims of former gymnastics team physician and serial sexual predator, Larry Nassar. As an adult, Sarah struggled with anxiety, depression, and a range of physical ailments. Then, Sarah connected with a therapist named Dr. Liz Goldman, who also had been a victim of sexual assault -- by a middle school wrestling coach. The two women formed a powerful connection that eventually flipped the doctor-patient relationship on its head, and both women continue to draw strength from one another. This story first aired in November of 2019 and won a Webby award last week, so we are re-airing it today.Watch all three parts of Armen Keteyian's video story about Sarah and Liz:https://theathletic.com/video/23-silent-no-more/?source=theleadpodcastIf you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit https://hotline.rainn.org/ and receive confidential support.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After winning a championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, Dennis Rodman closed out his NBA career two years later with the Dallas Mavericks, a team that had been the laughing stock of the league for quite some time. It was a short, strange period during which Rodman lived in new team owner Mark Cuban's guest house and attracted unusual groups of fans to games. The Athletic's Saad Yousuf joins us to discuss how and why Rodman ended up with one of the league's worst teams and the bizarre way in which his career came to an end.Read Saad Yousuf and Tim Cato's oral history of Dennis Rodman's time in Dallas:https://theathletic.com/1819520/2020/05/18/dennis-rodmans-last-dance-the-oral-history-of-the-worms-month-with-mavericks/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a race going on to bring back pro sports, and the state of Florida is in the lead. The Sunshine State declared sports to be an essential service earlier this year, and is now recruiting leagues and teams far and wide. The Athletic’s Chris Perkins joins us from Miami to talk about who is pulling the strings behind the scenes in Florida, how people there feel about the possibility of pro sports returning to their cities, and the strange but special place that Florida holds in our national consciousness.Read Chris Perkins's story about Florida's push to attract pro sports:https://theathletic.com/1814085/2020/05/14/for-financial-and-other-reasons-florida-pushes-to-lead-americas-sports-restart/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major League Baseball players have had some extra time on their hands recently. And, it turns out, they've gotten into some pretty interesting activities. The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli fills us in on how a few different MLB players have been spending their time, in ways that are surprising, inspiring, and colorful.Read Britt Ghiroli and Eno Sarris's story about MLB players actions during lockdown:https://theathletic.com/1807617/2020/05/12/gardening-podcasting-harp-how-mlb-players-are-passing-the-time-in-lockdown/?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 night, after 10 hours of sports TV nostalgia, The Last Dance — the documentary series about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls — reached its conclusion. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s David Aldridge — who was featured throughout the series — to look at what set Jordan apart from other all-time greats, and to explore what the series showed us about MJ’s human side. Follow David Aldridge’s coverage of The Last Dance and the NBA: https://theathletic.com/author/david-aldridge/?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 Bundesliga became the first major sports league to return to play this weekend. Lucky for soccer fans, it has also been arguably the most exciting league in Europe this season. The Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein joins us to explain how a well-organized pandemic response helped Germany become the first European nation to bring back major sports, the strange spectacle of games with no fans and social-distancing during celebrations, and whether or not anyone will unseat perennial champions Bayern Munich.Follow Raphael Honigstein's Bundesliga coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/raphael-honigstein/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the start of the NFL offseason, the Houston Texans made a stunning trade, sending All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for a return headlined by running back David Johnson. The man behind that decision, and all of Houston's moves, is their coach and general manager, Bill O'Brien. Today, we're joined by Aaron Reiss of The Athletic to look at O'Brien's erratic tenure with the team, how he ended up with both jobs, and whether one person should ever have this much power over a team. Follow Aaron Reiss's coverage of the Houston Texans: https://theathletic.com/author/aaron-reiss/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major League Baseball owners have a proposal for the 2020 baseball season that includes empty stadiums, regional competition, and more teams making the playoffs. But it hasn't exactly been welcomed with open arms by the players. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark joins us to talk about what exactly this shortened season would look like, how a debate over players’ salaries is playing out in the court of public opinion, and why some players are less than enthusiastic about the lack of details about health and safety.Follow Jayson Stark's MLB coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/jayson-stark/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NCAA recently accepted new recommendations involving college athletes' NIL (name, image and likeness) rights. That means some athletes will soon be making significant money for things that have long been banned, including promoting products on social media. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us talk about what exactly will and won’t be allowed, when college athletes could start making money, and just how much some stars could make.Read Nicole Auerbach's story about college athletes' social media brands:https://theathletic.com/1796999/2020/05/07/college-athlete-name-image-likeness-value/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, the NBA took a tiny step toward returning to play, as some teams opened the doors to their practice facilities and began allowing individual player workouts. Today, the Athletic’s Sam Amick joins us to talk about how the NBA is slowly but surely trying to resume the season, where and how a completion of the 2019-2020 season might work, and what's at stake for the league as it navigates through these uncharted waters.Follow Sam Amick's NBA coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/sam-amick/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last night on The Last Dance, we got the chance to re-live Michael Jordan’s time as a minor league baseball player, for the Double-A Birmingham Barons, in 1994. Today, we’re joined by James Fegan — who covers the White Sox for The Athletic — to hear some behind the scenes stories from Jordan’s time in Birmingham, including a wave of celebrity appearances, and a local pickup basketball game featuring MJ himself.Read James Fegan’s stories about Michael Jordan playing for the Barons: https://theathletic.com/1803492/2020/05/10/thanks-to-1994-michael-jordan-will-always-be-the-most-famous-birmingham-baron/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UFC 249 is going down on Saturday in Florida, a state where stay-at-home restrictions have been eased and sports like professional wrestling and MMA have been deemed essential. The Athletic’s Shaheen Al-Shatti joins us to discuss how this fight came to be, the extreme measures being taken to ensure that the fighters do not contract coronavirus, and what to expect from up-and-comer Justin Gaethje and the always entertaining Tony Ferguson.Follow Shaheen Al-Shaati's MMA coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/shaheen-al-shatti/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Athletic has named Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne as its Premier League player of the year. Before the season was suspended, the Belgian star was closing in on Thierry Henry's record for assists in a season and had been directly involved in more goals than any other player. The Athletic’s Sam Lee joins us to talk about what makes De Bruyne so special as a player, his future with Manchester City given their Champions League ban, and what drives the fiery Belgian star.Follow Sam Lee's coverage of Man City:https://theathletic.com/author/sam-lee/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After the notorious "helmet hit" against Myles Rudolph last November and an ESPN interview gone awry a few months later, Myles Garrett took off for a while. Specifically, he went to Tanzania to spend time with a water charity that he has worked with for quite some time. The Athletic's Tom Reed went to the East African nation and joins us to talk about his conversation with the Cleveland Browns star, what he's been up to in the aftermath of the incident, and how the trip impacted Garrett.Follow Tom Reed's coverage of the Cleveland Browns:https://theathletic.com/author/tom-reed/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Professional baseball is back! In South Korea, that is. The Korea Baseball Organization kicked off its season on Tuesday a little differently: empty stadiums and officials, coaches and players wearing masks and gloves. It's a completely different atmosphere for a league that's used to raucous crowds, dramatic bat flips and full-throated sing-alongs. South Korea was able to flatten its COVID-19 curve quickly and effectively, which allowed baseball to return. The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans joins us to talk about opening day in Korea and what sets its league apart from MLB. Then, we'll talk with Sung Min Kim who works on the R and D team for the Lotte Giants in Busan about how the players and other personnel are handling a return to baseball amid a global pandemic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last night on The Last Dance, ESPN’s documentary series about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, we heard the origin story of the Air Jordan, and its impact on everyone from Nas to Justin Timberlake. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Wosny Lambre, who doubles as a reporter and a sneaker head, to discuss the impact of Jordan’s shoe revolution, which NBA player is the most sneaker obsessed, and why, even though he's nearly sixty years old, MJ is still the undisputed sneaker king.Follow Wosny Lambre's coverage of the NBA, including fashion and culture:https://theathletic.com/author/wosny-lambre/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Draymond Green has been sounding off on his former teammate, Kevin Durant, lately. Green has talked about a dustup between the two, and how Durant’s contract situation and general behavior affected the team. The Athletic’s Ethan Strauss has followed the Warriors up close for years and has a new book about the team called The Victory Machine. He joins us to discuss what was going on behind the scenes of arguably the best team in NBA history and why Durant was so unhappy even as the Warriors were dominating.Follow Ethan Strauss's coverage of the Warriors:https://theathletic.com/author/ethan-strauss/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Green Bay Packers shocked the football world when they selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of this year's draft. The pick was immediately compared to 2005, when the Packers selected Aaron Rodgers in the first round while Hall of Famer Brett Favre was still the undisputed leader of the team. Rodgers is even the same age Favre was when he was selected. Today, we're joined by Dan Rubenstein, host of Wondery's Sports Wars and The Solid Verbal podcast, to talk about the parallels between Favre, Rodgers and Love, why the Packers drafted a QB, and whether or not Aaron Rodgers will treat Jordan Love the way Brett Favre treated him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this month, the top high school basketball prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, Jalen Green, decided he would skip college and sign with a new program operated by the NBA's G League. The new initiative is the NBA's first academy-style operation within the league, and the goal is to keep homegrown talent in the U.S. rather than seeing them play overseas in places like Australia, China or Greece. Today, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie joins us to talk about the NBA’s surprising investment, what makes this new program different, and how it could force the NCAA’s hand.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, Major League Baseball handed down its punishment to the Red Sox for using video replay to steal signs. Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic broke the news about the Red Sox back in January. Today, Ken joins us to discuss the details of the punishment, the replay operator who ended up as Boston's fall guy, and whether Major League Baseball got this whole thing right. Read Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich's reporting on the Red Sox: https://theathletic.com/1767946/2020/04/23/rosenthal-and-drellich-mlbs-red-sox-report-is-finished-but-plenty-of-questions-remain/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last night on The Last Dance, we heard more amazing stories about Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Dennis Rodman and the legendary 1997-98 Chicago Bulls. Today, we’re joined by Joe Vardon of The Athletic, who collected untold stories from former NBA players about their first encounters with Jordan, including unexpected tales from Dwyane Wade, Dominique Wilkins and Jordan’s former teammate, Ron Harper. Read all of Joe Vardon's Michael Jordan stories: https://theathletic.com/1732519/2020/04/15/why-yall-wont-let-jordan-in-untold-stories-of-meeting-michael-jordan/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.