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Wake up to the best sports story you'll hear all day. Monday through Friday, we bring you an inside look at the most interesting stories in sports, as told by ESPN's top reporters and insiders. The breaking news of SportsCenter. The deep dive storytelling of 30 for 30. Get the very best of ESPN. Daily. Hosted by Clinton Yates.
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Russell Westbrook’s Long, Secret Road to the Lakers

Russell Westbrook’s Long, Secret Road to the Lakers

Russell Westbrook is making his return to L.A. to join what might be the most star-studded Lakers roster ever. While there are questions on whether it’ll work as planned, a SoCal homecoming has apparently been Russ’ goal. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne spills all the secrets surrounding roster shake-ups since 2019 for both teams in La La Land, and how Westbrook could have ended up in a Clippers jersey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29:0311/08/2021
The Strategy Behind MLB’s Huge Trades (With Jeff Passan or Jefff Pasann)

The Strategy Behind MLB’s Huge Trades (With Jeff Passan or Jefff Pasann)

Major League Baseball’s trade deadline left the rich even richer...well, at least the Dodgers. L.A. landed three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, and his former Nationals teammate Trea Turner. Jeff Passan explains how and why L.A. made this deal, with the small market thinking behind their strategy. Plus, the goods on other big deadline deals. Then, yet another athlete comment shows racism persists against the Asian American Pacific Islander community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:1210/08/2021
Why Barcelona Legend Messi is Leaving

Why Barcelona Legend Messi is Leaving

In an emotional press conference, Lionel Messi said his final goodbye to Barcelona. It’s been his team for more than 20 years, since he was 13 years old. While Messi and Barcelona had agreed on a five-year extension, the deal fell through because of rules from Spain’s league, LaLiga. ESPN’s Gab Marcotti explains how and why Barcelona allowed this to happen, and the impact of Messi’s exit on the rest of the sport. Then, how the Texas Rangers’ Brock Holt threw a historically slow strike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:1909/08/2021
Do the Olympics Still Matter?

Do the Olympics Still Matter?

The Tokyo Olympics are drawing to a close, and it’s with perhaps less enthusiasm for the event than any Games in recent memory. Viewership is down sharply from the 2016 Games in Rio, and while much of that is no doubt due to the timezone difference as well as the lack of spectators due to the pandemic, there is still a sense among many that the Olympic’s future is uncertain. Fewer and fewer cities are actively bidding to host the Olympics, and corruption scandals at the IOC as well as doping controversies have left much of the public cynical about the true purpose of the Games. Jeremy Schaap, who has covered eight Olympics on the ground, examines where the Olympic movement is headed...and reflects on some of his favorite extinct Olympic events from history. Then, former rhythmic gymnastics Junior Olympic gold medalist Katie Nolan shares her memories from the sport she loves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:5106/08/2021
The Sound and the Fury of College Football’s SEC

The Sound and the Fury of College Football’s SEC

College sports powerhouses the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners have hightailed it for the almighty Southeastern Conference, or SEC, leaving the Big 12 behind. It’s one of the biggest college football shakeups we’ve seen, and shows the enormous power and influence of the SEC. College football gentleman and scholar Spencer Hall takes us inside this drama to tell us why it matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31:2805/08/2021
How NFL Teams are Combating Vaccine Hesitancy

How NFL Teams are Combating Vaccine Hesitancy

As coronavirus cases surge across the country, the NFL’s training camps are in full swing. But the most important battle being waged is between the teams and a vocal minority of players who don’t want to get vaccinated. This offseason, the NFL has implemented new policies to encourage players to get the vaccine. For instance, if an unvaccinated player causes an outbreak that forces a game to be canceled, that player’s team must forfeit. And every player on both teams will lose out on their game check. In addition, unvaccinated players are mandated to spend 5 days in quarantine if they come in contact with an infected individual. So coaches around the league are increasingly taking the view that the vaccine isn’t just crucial to private and public health...it’s critical to winning football games. But that doesn’t mean every player agrees...and the friction is starting to boil over publicly. Kevin Seifert explains the pushback, and how the NFL is handling its vaccination efforts going forward. Then, Sarah Spain discusses her Olympic heptathlon dreams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
34:2404/08/2021
Olympic Skateboarding vs. Skate Culture, Explained

Olympic Skateboarding vs. Skate Culture, Explained

Skateboarding’s debut at the Olympics felt like a success in the viral waves it made. After the street competition, this week we’ll see the men’s and women’s park events. For skaters across the globe, Olympic skateboarding prompts some existential questions. Gary Rogers, X Games commentator and host of Skateline for Thrasher Magazine, walks us through the Olympic competitors and explains why a gold medal will never be the pinnacle of a skater’s career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
27:2003/08/2021
Tokyo Games Week Two Begins + NBA Free Agency

Tokyo Games Week Two Begins + NBA Free Agency

As the Olympics moves into its second week, we check in with our Tokyo correspondent Brian Windhorst. What will he remember most so far, and what’s ahead? Plus more on USA Men’s Basketball’s path to Olympic gold (or not). Then a look at the Lakers’ earth-shattering trade for Russell Westbrook and other big moves that are expected as free agency begins in the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:0802/08/2021
Faster, Higher, Stronger: Exploring the Limits of Olympics Athletes

Faster, Higher, Stronger: Exploring the Limits of Olympics Athletes

The motto of the Olympics is Citius, Altius, Fortius: Faster, Higher, Stronger. It’s what we’ve come to expect from every athlete who competes in the games. Each Olympics, we want to see records shattered for what humans can physically achieve. But how much faster, higher, and stronger can humans get? David Epstein helps us explore the peak of human athletic performance, or if the potential is actually limitless. Then Pablo reflects on the virtual watch parties for Olympians that have gone viral. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:1030/07/2021
Tonight’s NBA Draft: Everything You Need to Know

Tonight’s NBA Draft: Everything You Need to Know

It’s being called one of the most loaded NBA draft classes in recent memory. The projected top three picks: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley are all talented to enough to be selected #1 overall. ESPN’s Mike Schmitz is here to run down all the names and scenarios you need to know for tonight’s NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Are the Pistons a lock to take Cade Cunningham? Is Jalen Suggs the new Jrue Holiday? Who is Bones Hyland, and why should you be obsessed with him? And is Turkish big man Alperen Sengun the next Nikola Jokic? Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on the US women’s 3-on-3 basketball team’s gold medal - and the sport’s inception. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:2329/07/2021
Why Simone Biles Withdrew And What’s Next

Why Simone Biles Withdrew And What’s Next

The Tokyo Games has already seen several upsets, but none more surprising than Simone Biles’ stumble on the vault and then her withdrawal from the team gymnastics final. Despite initial speculation of an injury, Biles said she stepped away out of concern for her mental health and whether her performance might hurt the team’s chances. ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk explains the lead up and the day of Biles’ withdrawal, what it means for the rest of the gymnastics competition at the Olympics, and beyond. Then Pablo shares what Hidilyn Diaz becoming the first Olympic gold medalist for the Philippines means to him.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:0428/07/2021
Barnwell on Aaron Rodgers Latest + NFL Training Camps

Barnwell on Aaron Rodgers Latest + NFL Training Camps

Aaron Rodgers is inching toward a new deal with his Green Bay Packers right when NFL players report to training camps. With the season just around the corner, other situations also remain in question - like Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. Investigations of sexual assault allegations against Watson are ongoing. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell gets us up to speed, and clears the air surrounding lingering COVID-19 vaccine questions. Then, Ashley Brewer gives us an update on Katie Ledecky’s quest to become the most decorated female Olympian of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:1727/07/2021
U.S. Gymnastics Star Sunisa Lee: Poised for Gold?

U.S. Gymnastics Star Sunisa Lee: Poised for Gold?

At the Tokyo Games, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team has found itself in an unfamiliar position: second place after the first qualifying event. Poised to help bring the team back to the top is 18-year-old phenom Sunisa Lee, second in the world to Simone Biles. Lee has balanced the weight of family tragedy — and the pride of being the first Olympian of Hmong ethnicity — all the way to Japan. ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk charts Sunisa’s path to gold so far, and the uneven, high-stakes road ahead. Then, Brian Windhorst updates us on men’s basketball, after Team USA’s loss to France, and why we might see more L’s ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:0626/07/2021
Is Jalen Rose the First Jalen? Solving a Sports Name Mystery (Re-Spin)

Is Jalen Rose the First Jalen? Solving a Sports Name Mystery (Re-Spin)

You’ll find several “Jalens” in the 2021 NBA draft this week. And that's on top of all the "Jalens" in the 2021 NFL draft. From Jalen Suggs to Jalen Green to Jalen Johnson, the announcement of the picks will have you hearing the name ... a lot. For years our colleague, friend and basketball veteran Jalen Rose has maintained today’s Jalens are named for him (whether they know it or not). In one of our favorite-ever episodes, we honor Jalen Rose’s mother, the recently passed Jeanne Rose, by exploring the history and mystery of his name in sports and beyond. With data, experts, and extensive interviews, the Jalen paradox is solved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
43:0224/07/2021
Why USA Men’s Basketball Faces Uphill Climb for Olympic Gold

Why USA Men’s Basketball Faces Uphill Climb for Olympic Gold

The Tokyo Olympics begin today, and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst is on the ground set to cover Team USA Basketball in its first Olympic matchup this weekend. After surprising exhibition losses and last-minute roster changes due to COVID-19, Windhorst shares how the men’s team will fare in Tokyo. Hear how the game differs on the world stage, which teams pose the biggest threat, and why the era of “Dream Team” dominance may be coming to an end.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:0323/07/2021
On the Ground in Tokyo for the Pandemic Olympics

On the Ground in Tokyo for the Pandemic Olympics

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are here, one year late, and much to the dismay of many in Japan. The Tokyo Games will be unlike any other in Olympic history. Fans will not be allowed in any of the arenas. Athletes, officials and media are required to remain in the Olympic “bubble” and stay separated from the general public. And the Olympic Village, which typically serves as a giant party for the athletes, promises to be much more subdued. All of it, of course, is to hopefully keep the coronavirus from spiking, and possibly forcing the Games to be halted. Pablo caught up with ESPN producer, Tony Florkowski, who is getting ready to work his 14th Olympic Games, and is currently quarantined in his hotel room. Then, Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times helps us understand how the people of Japan are reacting to these Olympics set to begin under a state of emergency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30:0822/07/2021
Bucks are Champions + The Power of WNBA’s Layshia Clarendon

Bucks are Champions + The Power of WNBA’s Layshia Clarendon

The Bucks are NBA Champions! Pablo reacts to the win in Milwaukee and why a title takes skill, not luck. Then, Layshia Clarendon is a WNBA all-star now with the Minnesota Lynx, parent to an infant, activist off the court, and they’re the first openly nonbinary and transgender player in the league. ESPN’s Katie Barnes shares their story, from how faith impacted Clarendon’s upbringing to the complex road to self-discovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
41:1421/07/2021
Bucks in Six or Suns’ Last Stand?

Bucks in Six or Suns’ Last Stand?

Tonight the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance to close out the NBA Finals on their home floor and secure their first championship in 50 years. Standing in their way is future Hall of Famer Chris Paul and his squad of young guns on the Suns, desperate to send the series back to Phoenix for a seventh game. ESPN’s Malika Andrews has been on the sidelines throughout the NBA playoffs, and previews this crucial matchup. Then, comedian Wyatt Cenac gives his take on why Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are not Batman and Robin, and wouldn’t want to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:5620/07/2021
The Legend of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick Is Still Being Written

The Legend of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick Is Still Being Written

Ryan Fitzpatrick has 22 helmets in his Zoom background...and that just makes sense. The veteran quarterback has been in the NFL since 2005, as both a star and a journeyman in a career that’s spanned many teams and cities. And it wasn’t a given in college at Harvard that he’d even go pro at all. Pablo Torre has known “Fitzmagic” since those days, and talks lessons on the field and off with the 2021 starting QB for the Washington Football Team, including how he’s managed to stay off of social media all this time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:5319/07/2021
A Murder in Memphis: The Lorenzen Wright Story

A Murder in Memphis: The Lorenzen Wright Story

It’s been 11 years since NBA veteran Lorenzen Wright was murdered, his body found in a remote field in Memphis. Wright’s twin sons, Lamar and Shamar were 10 years old when their father was killed. Now, Shamar and Lamar are finally ready to share their perspective on their father, his murder, and the accusations against their mother, Sherra. Sherra Wright pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of her husband in 2019, but now, in a rare interview from prison, she proclaims her innocence. Through the loss of their father, the arrest of their mother, Lamar and Shamar Wright have somehow pushed on, and are now playing college basketball together. Our own Lisa Salters recounts this story of loss and basketball, which accompanies an E:60 special A Murder in Memphis available on demand now on the ESPN app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:3816/07/2021
What’s Wrong with the Yankees?

What’s Wrong with the Yankees?

The New York Yankees have become a disappointment. Their heartbreaking loss to the Houston Astros right before the All-Star break is a prime example of the struggles they’ve been through this year, and their season doesn’t get any easier from here. In their path to redemption lie their storied rivals, the Boston Red Sox, who sit atop the American League East, enjoying an 8-game lead over their rivals. Jeff Passan tells us how the Bronx Bombers have been defused, and whether or not there’s still hope for them this season. Then, how Jusuf Nurkic is trying to buy vaccines for all of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:2215/07/2021
Zach Lowe on the NBA Finals Biggest Battle: Deandre Ayton vs Giannis

Zach Lowe on the NBA Finals Biggest Battle: Deandre Ayton vs Giannis

Phoenix Suns Center DeAndre Ayton has been arguably the most important big man in the NBA this postseason. ESPN Senior NBA Writer Zach Lowe joins the show to tell us how Ayton has made the journey from #1 pick, to borderline bust, to the key of the Suns defense. On the other side is two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has battled back from a scary knee injury to dominate Game 3. Lowe breaks down how this match up of two big men may just hold the key to the rest of the series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:0714/07/2021
Marvel’s Moneymaker Sisters: Stuntwomen Who Bring Superheroes to Life

Marvel’s Moneymaker Sisters: Stuntwomen Who Bring Superheroes to Life

Meet two of the best stuntwomen in Hollywood: Heidi and Renae Moneymaker. You’ve seen them in Avengers: Endgame, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and now, Black Widow, to name a few. The Moneymaker sisters take us through the bumps and bruises that come from being real life superheroes as stuntwomen. Heidi has helped craft the character of Black Widow with Scarlett Johnasson, as her stunt double for the last decade. And Renae was Brie Larson’s stunt double in Captain Marvel, among others. The Moneymaker sisters have faced the greatest villains on-screen, and tell us how two skilled gymnasts went from formal floor routines to getting hit by cars, dodging explosions and diving off cliffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:3713/07/2021
ShoTime: How Ohtani Will Dazzle at Home Run Derby and All-Star Game

ShoTime: How Ohtani Will Dazzle at Home Run Derby and All-Star Game

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani has been slugging homers to corners of ballparks few humans have ever reached, making this year’s MLB Home Run Derby a must-see. He leads the league in home runs AND he’s piling up strikeouts on the mound. That two-way dominance has him set to light up the All-Star Game, too. Alden Gonzalez, our guide to the Ohtani experiment, says the Babe Ruth comparison doesn’t even apply to what Shohei has been doing this season. Hear how Ohtani will dazzle next. Then, Sam Borden joins us from London as Italy takes the Euro 2020 trophy over England, before a packed Wembley Stadium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
38:1212/07/2021
How Team Owners Avoid Millions in Taxes

How Team Owners Avoid Millions in Taxes

Franchise owners are some of the wealthiest Americans. Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s net worth is estimated at more than $100 billion. He’s just one of the billionaires in ProPublica’s investigation on how teams are handled, when it comes to owners’ tax liability. Investigative reporter Robert Faturechi of ProPublica walks us through the tax code as it relates to franchise executives, and how they may wind up paying lower taxes by percentage than not only the players for whom they write their checks, but the workers at their arenas as well. Then Greg Wyshynski tells us how back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions the Tampa Bay Lightning are celebrating fresh off the ice, literally, with a limited-edition beer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:0109/07/2021
Definition Please? Inside the Scripps National Spelling Bee

Definition Please? Inside the Scripps National Spelling Bee

It’s finally here! One of ESPN’s most prestigious events, the Scripps National Spelling Bee, names a champion tonight. Families from across the country cheer on their finalist spellers, and it’s all broadcast live on ESPN2 at 8PM Eastern. Host Kevin Negandhi shares how the bee works, and why it means so much to the Indian-American community. Hear about the fierce field of competitors, and see how Kevin and Pablo do with a word or two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
28:4308/07/2021
The Point God has Spoken: How CP3 Took Control of the NBA Finals Game 1

The Point God has Spoken: How CP3 Took Control of the NBA Finals Game 1

It may have been his NBA Finals debut, but Chris Paul looked like he’d been preparing for his whole life. Now in his 16th season, the 36 year old Paul took control of Game 1 of the NBA Finals leading Phoenix to a 118-105 victory over Milwaukee. It was a vintage CP3 performance, complete with surgical pick-and-rolls, attacking drives to the rim, and opportunistic outside jumpers. Kevin Arnovitz has covered Paul for years, and explains why he is finding success at this stage of his career, after so many seasons of heartbreak. Plus, Kevin's breakdown of what the Bucks need to do to slow down the Suns, and why the series may yet have drama in store. Then, we check in with Sam Borden in London, who brings us a soccer (and culinary) update from the 2020 Euros semifinals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:5307/07/2021
RE-AIR: How Two Detroit Lions Inspired Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”

RE-AIR: How Two Detroit Lions Inspired Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”

You know and love the Marvin Gaye song “What’s Going On,” which turned 50 this year. But do you know the background voices on the hit song belong to two Detroit Lions? The Motown superstar developed a deep friendship with NFL players Mel Farr and Lem Barney, and it led to music history. Plus the story gets even better, as Farr and Barney helped Marvin Gaye take his dream of playing pro football to the next level. Justin Tinsley joins the show to tell the amazing story of football’s role in Marvin Gaye’s turbulent life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:4706/07/2021
RE-AIR: Ali-Frazier: The “Fight of the Century” 50 Years Later

RE-AIR: Ali-Frazier: The “Fight of the Century” 50 Years Later

50 years ago, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met in their first iconic boxing match, known as “The Fight of the Century.” It was 1971, with the civil rights movement in full swing and the nation divided over the war in Vietnam. Jeremy Schaap, boxing historian and host of E60 and Outside the Lines, shares how political and cultural views were projected onto Ali and Frazier, with their different personalities, history and fighting styles. The night itself was a grand celebrity spectacle (Frank Sinatra took a gig as a photographer, just to get in the building.) And while Frazier won unanimously, the fight has a more complex and nuanced legacy. Half a century later, it remains one of the sports’ biggest moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:4805/07/2021
College Athletes Are Getting Paid: Now What?

College Athletes Are Getting Paid: Now What?

July 1, 2021 marks a new era in college sports. It’s a day which some believed would never come, because student-athletes are now free to make money off of their name, image, and likeness. Many stars at the collegiate level have already begun to partake in their newfound compensatory freedom, but what will these game changing new laws mean for the collegiate world as a whole? ESPN’s Dan Murphy joins Sarah Spain to answer all of our questions on how schools, players, and fans are being affected by these uncharted waters. Then, Sarah shares her insights on the struggles that Olympic mothers face, as many remain unsure if they are allowed to bring their newborns to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:3602/07/2021
Jeff Passan on MLB’s Sticky Stuff War

Jeff Passan on MLB’s Sticky Stuff War

Major League Baseball’s crackdown is underway on pitchers using foreign substances for better grip. ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan explains why we’re seeing players being undressed by umpires as they come off the field (in one case literally). Questions remain about how smart a move this was to make in the middle of the season, and if it is having the effect that MLB wants. Then, Sarah reflects on Bobby Bonilla Day, and a Yankees bat girl who finally saw her dream came true, 60 years after writing a letter to the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30:0401/07/2021
P.K. Subban on the Stanley Cup Final

P.K. Subban on the Stanley Cup Final

P.K. Subban, ESPN’s newest NHL playoff analyst and three-time NHL All-Star, joins Sarah Spain to dive deep into the Stanley Cup Final. Subban, who played sevens seasons for the Canadiens, shares what it means for most storied franchise in the NHL to be back playing for the Cup after last winning it nearly 30 years ago. Standing in their way are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are looking to be the first team to repeat since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017. Subban explains what the Canadiens need to do to complete their Cinderella run, and how the Lightning can make even more history en route to their third championship. He also tells the story of his childhood friend and teammate Steven Stamkos...and how they used to dominate on the Pee-Wee hockey circuit. Then, Sarah shares her thoughts on Dak Prescott opening up about the importance of mental health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
28:4030/06/2021
Simone Biles to Tokyo: The Road to More Gold

Simone Biles to Tokyo: The Road to More Gold

Simone Biles has been the face of USA Gymnastics ever since she began competing on the international stage. The most decorated gymnast of all time has sealed her position on the U.S. Olympic roster for the second straight games, and will travel to Tokyo with a scary good team. ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk shares what she saw at the Olympic trials, and breaks down the moves that make Biles legendary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
37:4529/06/2021
CP3 Powers Suns, Middleton Invigorates Bucks: NBA Conference Finals

CP3 Powers Suns, Middleton Invigorates Bucks: NBA Conference Finals

The NBA Conference Finals are heating up - especially for Khris Middleton, whose surge helped the Bucks come back to rout the Hawks 113-102, and they lead the series 2-1. The Hawks led for almost the entire game thanks to Trae Young, who got injured during the game but returned. And in the west, the Phoenix Suns are one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. Propelled by veteran Chris Paul and young star Devin Booker, the Suns held a comfortable lead in Saturday’s Game 4, until the final minutes when the Clippers closed the gap and nearly held the lead. Then, a bizarre final minute...but the Suns held on to take a 3-1 lead. Sarah Spain and Brian Windhorst unpack the Conference Finals action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:0728/06/2021
Americans in Blazers: Roger Bennett on Stars, Stripes, and Soccer

Americans in Blazers: Roger Bennett on Stars, Stripes, and Soccer

Ahead of his book, “Reborn in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to His Chosen Home,” Roger Bennett of Men in Blazers fame shares how his love for U.S. sports and culture as a kid in Liverpool led him in search of his own American dream. From meeting his childhood idol William “The Refrigerator” Perry, to the emotion of being sworn in as a US Citizen, Bennett's story truly captures the wonder and complexity of America. It's also the story of sports' magic ability to bridge cultures. And of course, Bennett offers his thoughts on England's chances in the Euro 2020 tournament as it heads into the knockout round.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:3025/06/2021
What We’re Made Of: A Vaccine Pioneer and Her Olympian Daughter

What We’re Made Of: A Vaccine Pioneer and Her Olympian Daughter

Every four years, athletes compete for glory at the Olympic Games, and this year’s Tokyo Games will feel even greater for two-time gold medalist Susan Francia. Her mother, Dr. Kate Karikó, has seen her lifelong work come to fruition in the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Karikó’s dedication to her research amidst adversity inspired her daughter, who became an elite rower and Olympian. ESPN’s Julie Foudy takes us through the story of Dr. Karikó’s perseverance, her mRNA breakthroughs behind the vaccine, and the mother-daughter relationship at the center of the E:60 upcoming feature “What We’re Made Of.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:4824/06/2021
Basketball Heat Check: Is the Hot Hand Fact or Fiction?

Basketball Heat Check: Is the Hot Hand Fact or Fiction?

From the playground to the gym to the NBA Conference Finals...the basketball court is ruled not by an iron fist, but by the “hot hand.” Shooters demand the ball when they get a hot hand. Teammates feed the player with the hot hand. Coaches draw up plays for the hot hand. But what if there is actually no such thing as the “hot hand?” For decades, that’s been the belief of Nobel Prize winning scientists who insist that what looks like a player who can’t miss...is really just a statistical fluke. Author Ben Cohen penned a book on the subject, “The Hot Hand,” and he joins the show for a scientific heat check now that the conference finals are in full swing. Is the burning sensation is a verifiable reality, or just a puff of smoke? Then, Pablo seeks to turn his park hobby into disc golf pro Paul McBeth’s million dollar endorsement deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
32:5023/06/2021
The Supreme Court College Sports Ruling, Explained

The Supreme Court College Sports Ruling, Explained

On Monday the Supreme Court unanimously ruled to uphold Alston v. NCAA, saying the NCAA could not bar certain types of payments to college athletes. It’s largely seen as having opened the door to a wider challenge to the NCAA’s ban on college athletes receiving compensation, writ large. ESPN Analyst Jay Bilas, college athlete and longtime critic of the NCAA’s claims around amateurism, breaks down the latest chapter in the saga and what it means (in the way that only he can). Then, Pablo shares thoughts on Carl Nassib, the first active NFL player to publicly come out as gay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
35:3522/06/2021
Devin Booker Dominates, Giannis Delivers, Hawks Soar: NBA Playoffs with Brian Windhorst

Devin Booker Dominates, Giannis Delivers, Hawks Soar: NBA Playoffs with Brian Windhorst

This weekend’s NBA playoffs included a pair of Game 7s and the first game of the Western Conference Finals. In the East, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets in overtime, despite a 48-point performance from Nets star Kevin Durant. The Bucks will meet the Hawks, following the thrilling finish to that series where the Hawks soared to victory, thanks to Trae Young’s fourth quarter heroics. And in the west, Devin Booker propelled the Chris Paul-less Phoenix Suns to a win in Game 1 over the LA Clippers, who are still without Kawhi Leonard. Brian Windhorst runs down every minute of NBA playoff action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
42:0321/06/2021
RE-AIR: The Rise Of The Suns’ Devin Booker

RE-AIR: The Rise Of The Suns’ Devin Booker

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is perhaps the most overlooked superstar in the NBA. At age 24, he’s one of the league’s premiere scorers. And his domination has continued this season, through the Phoenix Suns’ playoff run - they’re in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years. In a re-air of our episode from February, ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon takes us back to Booker’s roots in his “Cover Story, ” and chronicles the Gen-Z phenom’s path from 6th man at Kentucky, to his connection with Kobe Bryant, to his relationship with new teammate Chris Paul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
22:0719/06/2021
Formula 101: Everything You Need To Know About F1 Racing...and Why It’s Having a Moment

Formula 101: Everything You Need To Know About F1 Racing...and Why It’s Having a Moment

Formula 1 Racing has been incredibly popular overseas for decades. Its drivers are some of the most well-known and highest paid athletes in the world, but it's never taken off in the U.S. Now, thanks in part to the hit Netflix series “F1: Drive to Survive,” Formula 1 has begun to convert Americans with its high-speed danger and soap opera drama. Ryan McGee takes the wheel to give a crash course on Formula 1 racing. Then Marc Spears explains what Juneteenth means to him across sports and culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:0718/06/2021
How Pro Surfer Tyler Wright Made Her Own Waves

How Pro Surfer Tyler Wright Made Her Own Waves

Australian two-time world champion Tyler Wright was born to surf. She achieved incredible victories in the water, while enduring tremendous loss in her personal life. This combination of fame and chaos nearly broke her. As she was falling in love with her then-girlfriend, Wright also wasn’t sure her sport could accept her. It took a crippling illness for Wright to decide she was not only going to keep surfing, but do so while being unapologetically herself. Alyssa Roenigk reports on this incredible journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
36:3717/06/2021
Beef at the U.S. Open: Inside the Koepka/DeChambeau Feud

Beef at the U.S. Open: Inside the Koepka/DeChambeau Feud

The U.S. Open tees off this week, with all eyes on the simmering feud between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. Michael Collins, ESPN analyst and host of “America’s Caddie” on ESPN+, joins the show from Torrey Pines to discuss the origins of this rivalry, why the bad blood between these two golf stars has continued, and whether or not all the drama is good for the sport. Plus, how Collins went from standup comedy stages to the links. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:2816/06/2021
Love in the Time of Hockey Riots

Love in the Time of Hockey Riots

It’s been 10 years since the Vancouver Canucks lost Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins, in Vancouver. Canucks fans didn’t exactly hide their frustrations, as a riot engulfed the city. Now, a decade later, arguably the most enduring image of that night was a photo of a couple, kissing on the ground, surrounded by police in riot gear. Greg Wyshynski caught up with the couple, and the photographer, and joins the show to share how that iconic image endures to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:5115/06/2021
Suns Sweep, Bucks Bounce Back: NBA Playoffs with Kirk Goldsberry

Suns Sweep, Bucks Bounce Back: NBA Playoffs with Kirk Goldsberry

Another weekend of NBA playoff action is in the books. On Sunday, tensions flared between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, with league MVP Nikola Jokic getting ejected in the third quarter as the Suns swept. The Milwaukee Bucks put together a dominant effort led by Giannis Antetokounmpo to win Game 4 vs. the Nets, putting the series at 2-2 as Brooklyn grapples with Kyrie Irving and James Harden’s injuries. Kirk Goldsberry assesses all the on-the-court action and looks ahead to the rest of this week’s games. Then, newcomer Nets superfan Mina Kimes reassures the Brooklyn faithful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
34:1314/06/2021
Inside Euro 2020: Soccer’s Month of Drama, Passion, and Geopolitical Tension

Inside Euro 2020: Soccer’s Month of Drama, Passion, and Geopolitical Tension

Never has “better late than never” meant so much to so many. That’s because the 2020 Euros - aka the UEFA European Championship - kicks off today after a year’s delay due to the pandemic. It’s a tournament that consumes the continent and combines high drama on the pitch with real-world geopolitical stakes off of it. Coming off their World Cup victory in 2018, France are heavy favorites, but can they survive the “Group of Death” with rival Germany and reigning champs Portugal? Sam Borden joins us from Rome for a preview of the 24-team field that will see matches played at 11 sites across Europe. Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on athletes and coaches deciding to get the COVID vaccine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
31:4611/06/2021
MLB’s Sticky Situation: Spider Tack, Pelican Grip and Baseball’s Open Secret

MLB’s Sticky Situation: Spider Tack, Pelican Grip and Baseball’s Open Secret

The worst-kept secret in baseball is being brought to light. With batting averages at an all-time low and strikeouts at an all-time high, Major League Baseball is cracking down on pitchers using foreign substances to get a better grip on the ball. Buster Olney helps us understand why it took so long for MLB to enforce these rules, and why the gentleman’s agreement that tolerated the practice for years no longer holds. It’s an all-too-familiar story in a sport where the steroid era proved that players will always seek any available competitive edge. Then, Montreal native Ariel Helwani makes the case for why we should jump on the Montreal Canadiens bandwagon, as they’re one series away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
39:2810/06/2021
NFL Offseason Drama: Aaron Rodgers, Julio Jones, and More

NFL Offseason Drama: Aaron Rodgers, Julio Jones, and More

This NFL offseason is bursting with drama. There’s Julio Jones signing with the Tennessee Titans after more than a decade as the Atlanta Falcons star receiver. Aaron Rodgers won’t be showing up for required OTAs with the Packers, and his rift with the organization isn’t any closer to resolution. Ryan Clark helps us navigate the biggest NFL storylines, checks in on the various QB controversies, and discusses which teams have the most at stake in the coming months heading into the regular season. Then, Jessica Mendoza comes up to the plate to talk about the Women’s College World Series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
33:2609/06/2021
NFL Plans to End Race-Norming in Concussion Claims: What Happens Next

NFL Plans to End Race-Norming in Concussion Claims: What Happens Next

The NFL says it will stop using race-norming in evaluating former players’ concussion claims, as the practice makes it less likely for Black claimants to receive financial compensation. In years of settling and paying out claims up to now, the league has maintained its process was sound. Ryan Smith has been investigating the story for ESPN and ABC. He shares what prompted the NFL’s change in position, what updates to the program might look like and cost, and whether Black players previously denied payouts with race-norming in place will now be compensated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
28:5508/06/2021
NBA Playoffs Breakdown: Trae Triumphs, Kawhi Dominates, Harden Injured

NBA Playoffs Breakdown: Trae Triumphs, Kawhi Dominates, Harden Injured

The first round of the NBA Playoffs closed out in dramatic fashion yesterday, with Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard providing a pair of dynamic performances in Game 7 as the Clippers advanced past the Mavs. Also, the Atlanta Hawks took Game 1 in their series vs. the Sixers, thanks to a nearly unstoppable Trae Young, who’s been the breakout star of this postseason. And despite James Harden going down with an injury in the first minute, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1...and are now looking at the prospect of being Harden-less for at least Game 2. Brian Windhorst runs through the biggest storylines of the weekend’s basketball action, and looks ahead to the second round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29:3107/06/2021