In the 1980s SMU football looked to be almost inevitable. With a No. 2 ranking and a constant stream of top recruits, like Eric Dickerson and Craig James, they looked to be headed to a national title of their own. But they also had something else, a well-documented payroll for their players. This resulted in the NCAA’s so-called “death penalty” ruling for the program and sent SMU down a 40-year path of obscurity. But now, with the NIL era in full swing and armed with a stable of billionaire boosters, SMU football is jumping headfirst into a new conference with thoughts of the college football playoff on their mind. Dave Wilson joins us from Texas to break down the Mustang’s path from NCAA pariah to modern-day redemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots owner Robert Kraft has a resume anyone in the sports world would envy. Six world championships, an $11 billion empire, and an era of team success that will go down in NFL history. But there’s one thing that has eluded him – entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  While he’s contributed more to the NFL than most, he has no bust in Canton, but that is not for lack of trying. Today, Don Van Natta Jr., breaks down the exhaustive, and to date failed campaign to get Kraft his gold jacket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Any time a franchise owner threatens to leave a city, the pressure and scrutiny on civic leaders intensifies. But in Oakland, a parallel story emerged—a group of activist fans who refused to let the Athletics go quietly. In the second part of our series, Death of a Sports Town, we examine the three men who led the Warriors, Raiders, and Athletics away from “the Town,” the reasons behind their decisions, and the intimate story of one fan who launched a movement to fight back. Our five-part series ‘Death of a Sports Town’ publishes every Tuesday in the ESPN Daily show feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first Sunday of the NFL season is in the books, and we learned a little but not a lot.  Josh Allen still needs to work on protecting the ball for the highly hopeful Bills, the Colts Anthony Richardson showed us all why he might be the best athlete in football, and in spite of a rough outing, rookie Caleb Williams and the Bears pulled off a win in his debut. So today, ESPN NFL Analyst Ben Solak joins us for NFL Monday, to chalktalk the ins and outs of the league and get us ready for a Monday Night Football clash between the Jets and 49ers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Being known as a perfectionist is one of those “gift and a curse” type of labels. While some admire someone with the drive to shoot for the stars, the raised expectations can also open you up to the criticism that comes from not reaching your goals. For Jalen Hurts, you also have to throw in the scrutiny that comes along with being one of the faces of the NFL, in one of its crown cities. So today, ahead of Hurts and the Eagles season debut, tonight against the Packers in Sao Paolo Brazil, Andscape’s Martenzie Johnson - fresh off spending the day with Hurts for an Andscape digital cover story - shares his thoughts on who the QB is at this point in his career, and explains how his pursuit of perfection defines his leadership in the locker room, and the way he manages his public persona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL season starts tonight when the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs take on the rival Baltimore Ravens. So for those anxious fans out there, rest easy, because that means there’s football every week from now until February. And most of you want to know if your squad is going to make the playoffs at year’s end. So today - instead of a crystal ball - we bring in Bill Barnwell, to tell us who is going to climb out of the cellar, and into the playoffs this winter. And which teams that made it last season, are in for a rude awakening this year. You can get more of Bill Barnwell on The Bill Barnwell Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL gets underway this week with games on multiple continents and various franchises with a lot to prove.  The Chiefs open up their championship defense against the Ravens on Thursday, but not every division is looking like chalk.  So today, NFL Live’s Mina Kimes joins us to take a division by division look at the 2024 NFL season and tells us who she thinks might end up on the big stage in New Orleans for Super Bowl 59. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 23 days, on the afternoon of September 26th, the Oakland Athletics will play the Texas Rangers in their final game ever in the city they’ve called home for 57 seasons. Following the lead of the Warriors and Raiders, they will be the third major sports franchise to leave the city in just five years. This exodus is the culmination of decades of decisions, negotiations and missteps. And now, Oakland is in the end stages of its life as a big-time sports town.  So how exactly did we get here? How does this all look and feel on the ground in the East Bay? And when a city loses all its teams, what’s left behind? With the help of lifelong Bay Area resident Tim Keown, we’ve been exploring these questions for months. And today, we kick off our five-part series Death of a Sports Town with a look at the ironically rich history of sports in “The Town,” and we unearth the 30-year-old decision that doomed sports in the gritty-city-by-the-bay.   The multipart series: ‘Death of a Sports Town’ publishes every Tuesday in the ESPN Daily show feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed 34 years ago, leading to a significant rise in awareness, inclusion, and accommodation for people with disabilities across the country.  But all these years later, many needs remain unmet by stadiums and arenas nationwide. And the challenges faced by tens of millions of Americans with invisible disabilities are often under-appreciated and misunderstood. Today, Sam Borden helps us bridge the gap, taking us inside his expansive project on these unseen challenges, and revealing what we risk losing when we overlook them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL season is only one week away and while quarterbacks and Fantasy Football starting lineups are dominating everyone’s mind, there are hidden game breakers through the league that just might get overlooked. From the tight ends in Buffalo, to the defensive backs in K.C., to the man replacing future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce, these games will be decided from just about every spot on the roster. Not to mention the coaches, whose game planning and the play calling are often the razor-thin difference between playing in January and taking an early vacation. So today, ESPN’s newest NFL expert Ben Solak breaks down who he thinks could be true influencers this season from the field to the sidelines. difference makers for a lot of contenders in this league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve heard of the 12th man before, but probably didn’t know that it originated at Texas A&M. Because back in 1922, a fan by the name of E. King Gill, literally came out of the crowd and donned a jersey, helmet, and pads to support the Aggies, after a rash of injuries shrunk their roster in the Dixie Classic. Some 60 years later, Jackie Sherrill, the newly appointed Aggie head coach was so impressed by the rough and tumble nature of the student body, that he literally assembled a kick coverage team made up entirely of walk ons, called the 12th Man Kickoff Coverage Unit. ESPN College Football reporter Dave Wilson explains how that rogue unit of madmen, took it to Notre Dame, and its Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, in the 1988 Cotton Bowl. And tells us all about the trophy that they claimed from that game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life was perfect for Ali Truwit. She was in Turks and Caicos with her best friend celebrating her graduation from Yale. Her life stretched before her, like the clear blue sea. But one moment in the ocean changed her life forever. And suddenly, Ali, who’s entire life revolved around being in the water, was faced with the prospect that she might never swim again. Today Aish Kumar shares Ali’s story, and explains how doing the work to reclaim what she lost, opened the door to Ali representing the United States in the 2024 Paralympic Games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Lincoln, Nebraska, it doesn't get any bigger than Husker Volleyball. From sold out arenas, to raking in record attendances, it's not so much a team as it is a culture, and heavy is the head that wears the crown.  But for Harper Murray, who made a bold prediction after losing in the national championship game to Texas, social media threats and public pressures began to take over not just her career, but her life.  So today, Jen Karson-Strauss, the co-director of a recent E-60 feature on the Huskers titled “No Place Like Nebraska” explains how this team dealt with adversity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the U.S. Women’s National Team’s Olympic championship in the rearview mirror, it’s time to turn our attention to the National Women’s Soccer League, as play restarts this weekend. Allegations of widespread sexual and emotional abuse forced a reckoning for the league in 2021. But three years later, a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement is in effect, investment is pouring in, and franchise values are on the rise. Today, Philadelphia Inquirer soccer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald explains how the U.S. gold medal triumph sets the stage for the remainder of the NWSL season and why, both globally and domestically, the women’s game has never been better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s face it, for the last few years, the New York Mets have made headlines in the most Metropolitan way possible. From first round playoff flamouts to million dollar fire sales to chucking gloves in the stands, something always seemed to be going wrong in Queens. But through it all, the one enduring constant has been their underrated superstar – shortstop Francisco Lindor. And with the Mets looking to make noise this October, his off the field leadership could be more valuable than his Hall of Fame numbers. So Jeff Passan joins us to explain why Lindor is definitely the guy you want in you clubhouse and how the Mets could be building MLB’s next juggernaut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The rolling hills of Central Pennsylvania are home to Howard J. Lamade Stadium – one of the most fabulous baseball sites in America and the site of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Every year teams from around the globe travel to this small town to showcase their grit, hope, sportsmanship and will to win. While this represents everything that’s great about the game of baseball, there’s also a special brand of magic that takes place that’s hard to explain if you’ve never been. So today, ESPN’s Sebastian Salazar joins us to break down exactly what makes Williamsport so special from the families, to the competition and, of course, the food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While we are still enjoying the last moments of summer, the college football machine is already off and running as a fully operational battlestation. The CFB Top 25 rankings were just released and while some teams are looking poised to be some serious competition, others have fallen in the rankings leaving many questions up in the air. There have been so many changes in 2024, from the new sheriff in town for the Crimson Tide, to the SoCal teams swimming in the ultra-competitive Big Ten waters. Not to mention the chaos that will be the new playoff format. So today, college football uber-expert Ryan McGee joins us to make sense of all of this and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, as the Little League World Series brings youth sports front and center, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin explains how George McCaskey, a scion of the legendary Halas family who owns the Chicago Bears, became a community fixture in youth sports as an umpire. Plus, Courtney’s been watching the Bears closely this preseason and tells us whether or not they’ve found their dream team with the rookie duo of quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga took the mound on June 2, 2010 he was just looking to prove to the team that he deserved the stay in the starting rotation. But what began as a routine outing, turned into one of the most dramatic and historic moments in baseball history. Galarraga sat down the first 26 Cleveland hitters that he faced, leaving him one out away from a perfect game. But moments later, instead of glory, a blown call by the umpire, Jim Joyce, kicked off a nightmare for Major League Baseball. Today, ESPN’s Jen Lada explains what we can learn about justice and equity from this moment in time. Jen’s report, E-60 Presents 28 Outs: An Imperfect Story, airs August 18 at 4pm ET on ESPN and ESPN+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Olympic games are over and on the hardwood, both the men and women of Team USA brought home gold.  But while the guys head off to vacation, the WNBA athletes are getting back to work. The league’s four-week break for the Paris Olympiad is over with teams taking the court tonight to kick off the season’s home stretch. And many storylines are still up in the air. Today, ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo, an Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA All-Star herself, drops by to tell us about the playoff push and what it’s like to represent your country on the hardcourt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some of the greatest achievements in sports and music are the product of the same phenomenon––finding your flow. That is the motivating idea behind a new ESPN Film, from the mind of Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, titled “Rhythm Masters.” Hart interviewed numerous athletes and coaches from different sports, from Phil Jackson and Laila Ali, to Marshawn Lynch and Joe Montana. The result is an exploration of the common threads between top level athletes and musical artists.  Our own Wright Thompson worked with Hart on the film. In advance of its premiere tonight on ESPN, he takes us inside the production team’s artistic process, explains Bill Walton’s influence on the project, and examines the often overlooked role that creativity plays in athletic greatness. For more on Bill Walton and the Grateful Dead, check out our 2021 conversation with the man himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Olympics are over, but in Europe, the soccer season is just about to get underway. In England, Premier League football begins on Friday, and the question everyone needs answered? Can anyone topple Manchester City from the top of the heap? Meanwhile, further south in the continent, La Liga starts on Thursday. And the league with the most star power on the map, welcomes the best player on the planet in Kylian Mbappé, to its biggest brand, Real Madrid. Today, ESPN’s Luis Miguel Echegaray tells us everything we need to know ahead of the start of two of the biggest soccer leagues on the planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Summer 2024 Paris Olympics just ended, and it was truly a return to form for the games. France, and the world, embraced the athletes from across the globe, and with no COVID restrictions in place, we got a chance to see the competitors play a brand new role. Influencer. We were able to get up close and personal thanks to the access you get on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, or X, which made for a fun, and at times hilarious two weeks of competition. So today, our Emily Kaplan puts down her hockey stick and dives into social media to explain how the Olympics is entering its influencer stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After winning two golds, a silver, and a bronze in Paris, Thursday brought news that Katie Ledecky will carry the flag for the United States in Sunday’s Olympic closing ceremonies. It’s just another item on a very, very long list of career records and milestones.  But despite the wild success, Ledecky’s unassuming personality and predictable dominance have made her more of a steady champion than a cultural phenomenon. Today, our D’arcy Maine helps peel back the curtain to understand what makes Ledecky tick, how she’s achieved such greatness, and whether we’ll see her on the Olympic stage one more time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The second week of the Olympic Games means one thing – the promise that stars will either fall or be made in track and field. And from what we’ve seen so far, Paris has delivered. Noah Lyles claimed the title of Fastest Man Alive and has his sights set on claiming more gold in today’s 200M event. And while Sha’Carri Richardson lived up to her 2020 promise that she would be a presence in these Games, despite so many counting her out. Then there’s the newly minted national heroes like Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia and Thea LaFond of Dominica bringing home the first medals in the history of their respective countries. So today, from Paris, Coley Harvey shares his front row seat in Stade de France and lets us know that the drama in these Games is just getting started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paris’ women’s gymnastics events were flooded by Olympics fans looking to get one last peek at Simone Biles on the sports’ biggest stage. But her ultimate legacy will likely go far beyond what took place in this competition, or any other for that matter. Today, our Alyssa Roenigk draws on her years of reporting on Biles and explains how generations of gymnasts will have Simone to thank for a sport with a far healthier outlook on the body and the mind. Alyssa’s project on Simone Biles is titled “The Eras Tour - Simone’s Version.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Imane Khelif of Algeria defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds at the Paris Olympics, she should have been celebrating her advancing to the quarterfinals. Instead, Khelif found herself at the center of a firestorm focused on her gender. Because even though she was born a woman, has lived her life as a woman, and was verified by the International Olympic Committee as a woman. There were loud voices spreading the misinformation that a man had just beaten up a woman in an Olympic boxing match. It’s a familiar debate that has raged at different points in the modern sports world. About who is and isn’t eligible to take part in women’s athletics. And a fight that hits even harder against women of color. So today, ESPN’s Katie Barnes joins the show to explain how the history of eligibility in women’s athletics is tied to a complicated science that doesn’t lend itself to simple regulations. And to explore why we keep weaponizing gender when it comes to women’s sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve seen how a good quarterback can change everything for an NFL franchise nearly overnight.  Brett Favre started a chain of succession that is looking to anoint its third champion in Green Bay. Tom Brady turned the Patriots into the greatest dynasty the sport has ever seen. And Patrick Mahomes is looking to three-peat in Kansas City. And in today’s NFL, it seems like the path to becoming an iconic signal caller is happening faster than ever before. So today, with the NFL season just around the corner, ESPN’s newly cemented NFL Analyst Ben Solak tells us what we can expect from this rookie class of QBs, and how ready this new generation is to take the league by storm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From a national title with the legendary Nebraska Huskers to bronze, silver and gold with Team USA in the Olympics, Jordan Larson has won every volleyball honor imaginable.  For many people that is a complete resume, but for Larson that was never enough. What she sought from the game was an emotional connection to her peers, her hometown and her family. And as her career winds down she often finds herself reflecting on those lost connections of what could have been and – since the loss of her mother – what should have been. Today, Aishwarya Kumar shares the time she spent with Jordan Larson and reveals an intimate portrait on one Team USA’s Olympic legends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The dust has settled, and the MLB trade deadline is behind us. The rosters are more or less set for the stretch run of the MLB regular season. And what a deadline it was. 30 deals were struck on Tuesday alone, to say nothing of the moves that happened in the weeks leading up to July 31st.  So Jeff Passan joins the show today to breakdown the comings and goings across the league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Olympic games well under way, so is the quest of the US women’s basketball team as they go for their eighth-straight gold medal. And with names like Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson, Nepheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart in tow, the odds are definitely in their favor. But who's got next for this juggernaut? And more importantly, when will the rest of the world catch up with Team USA? Today, Alexa Philippou joins us to break down everything we will see in Paris and beyond as Team USA continues to write their own elite history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL season is almost upon us. Training camps are open and preseason games start on Thursday, but in many corners of the league, the action is already well underway in the negotiating room. Like in San Francisco, where the 49ers are trying to figure out how to pay their Mr. irrelevant QB Brock Purdy the huge money he has coming his way while also trying to keep the rest of the Niners stars in town. And out in Texas, what will the Cowboys, and their checkbook, do about Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb? Today, Bill Barnwell breaks down all these decisions and more as he gets us ready for another year of America’s favorite TV Show – the NFL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s not hyperbole to say that this may be the biggest shake-up college football has gone through in decades. The Pac-12 is extinct, the Big Ten stretches from coast-to-coast, the Big 12 and ACC are fighting to stay alive, and the SEC just keeps on gaining steam. Oh, and the College Football Playoff is expanding from four teams to an even dozen. So ESPN senior college football writer Heather Dinich, fresh off trips to both SEC and Big Ten media days, explains how things are going to work in college football’s new chapter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A little more than three years ago, inside a shiny new arena in Rwanda’s capital, the Basketball Africa League launched its inaugural season. It was a milestone for the continent and for America’s National Basketball Association, which was a driving force behind the venture. But among human rights experts, the NBA’s deal with Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame has raised questions since the very beginning. Today, our Mark Fainaru-Wada takes us inside his 18-month investigation into a partnership that formed the foundation for Africa’s new league and provides a clear-eyed examination of the complexities and ethical challenges of engaging in business with an authoritarian regime. Find more details from Mark's story in his article and video report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Olympic games are officially underway, and for the USWNT the chase for gold begins tonight against Zambia.  But this isn’t the same team that we’re used to seeing. The names have changed, and with America’s worst finish in a major international tournament EVER in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the playing field is stronger than ever.   So today, ESPN global correspondent Sam Borden explains what’s changed. Who stands between the ladies and a gold medal on the pitch? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2024 Olympics are just about ready to get started in Paris. And that means that from sea-to-shining-sea, American fans are preparing to see the men’s Olympic basketball team bring home gold. But, as we’ve seen in recent years, the talent gap between Team USA and the rest of the world has been closing on the hardwood. So today, ESPN NBA writer Tim Bontemps tells us if the most talented international team we’ve ever sent to the games can capture the gold against the most talented field in the history of the Olympic games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a minute since breakdancing hit mainstream culture in the early 1980s, but this summer, it’s evolving to another level with breaking, a competitive version of this art form, making its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. 16 men and 16 women will compete for the first-ever breaking medals on August 9th and 10th. Today, Clover Gold introduces us to one of America’s top B-girls, Sunny Choi, and reflects on what breakdancing’s rise to the Olympics says about the impact and evolution of hip hop culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last Thursday, we kicked off an examination of ESPN’s rankings of the greatest athletes of the 21st century. And though we found a lot to disagree with, we also uncovered a lot of insights about the state of the sports world in 2024.  So today, we bring you part two of this conversation between Emily Kaplan, Kevin Clark and guest host Jeremy Schaap. Does Kobe deserve to be higher than Tim Duncan? Why is Aaron Rodgers so low? Did international stars get a fair shake? What does this list tell us about the modern relationship between athlete and fan? We get into all that and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WNBA All-Star Weekend is upon us, with the STARRY 3-Point Contest and the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge airing on Friday night at 9 pm eastern on ESPN. And the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game itself tipping off on tomorrow at 830 PM on ABC So today, ESPN women’s basketball reporter Alexa Philippou, takes us through what the weekend has in store. She previews the faceoff between Team USA and Team WNBA, and dives into the most riveting Rookie of the Year race in the history of the league. Before explaining just how the W can capitalize on the momentum that it’s seeing right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ESPN has released its rankings of the greatest athletes of the 21st century so far, and we’ve got some bones to pick! That is, after all, the point of these things –– it’s fun to argue about. So that’s exactly what we’ll do today. Emily Kaplan and Kevin Clark join guest host Jeremy Schaap to examine why the players missing from the list may be more telling than those actually on it (no Breanna Stewart?!), why the term “GOAT” may be losing its meaning, and why Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, Lionel Messi, Tom Brady and beyond are all more deserving of the top slot than Michael Phelps.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ten years ago, during a skydiving accident, Emma Carey and her instructor plummeted some 14,000 feet into an empty cow pasture in Switzerland. Miraculously, both survived the more than two-mile fall.  Our own Ryan Hockensmith had the chance to speak with Emma about that experience. And to find out how she overcame the nightmare, processed her recovery, came to terms with the miracle — and used her story to inspire others, without letting it define her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Midsummer Classic is upon us once again. And once again, there are more questions than answers in Major League Baseball. What will the Pirates do with Paul Skenes, their rookie phenom? How can we get players interested in the All-Star Game again? How should we honor the late legend Willie Mays? And with a couple weeks left until the trade deadline, what should the powerhouse teams on both coasts do to make sure they are more than ready for October baseball? Today, Buster Olney sits side-by-side with Clinton Yates in Texas to answer all these questions and more on the eve of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is no greater pain than seeing a child suffer through an illness. But also, there is no greater joy than seeing that child smile.That full spectrum of emotions is at the heart of ESPN’s annual My Wish series that debuts this week. An elite slate of athletes will meet with several children to bond over their shared love of the game and a belief that hope, passion and a good team are the recipe for victory in whatever challenge they face. So today, our very own Chris Connelly reflects on the legacy of this program and shares what his experience has been like having a front-row seat to every My Wish ever granted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Players scrapping with fans in the stands, continental championships up for grabs on both sides of “the pond,” and US Men's Soccer is once again searching for a new manager. There’s a ton going on in the international soccer world, so today Luis Miguel Echegaray helps us break it all down, and lets us know who he thinks will capture the crown in Europe and the Americas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After 22 years, Wyc Grousbeck and his family announced they’ll be selling their controlling stake in the Boston Celtics. The announcement marks a seismic moment not just for the Celtics, but for the NBA. Our own Tim Bontemps is here to talk about how the sale of one of the most iconic franchises in the world connects to greater trends in sports team ownership worldwide, and to explain who or what entity could be Jayson Tatum  and Jalen Brown’s new boss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gamers of a certain age have fond memories of building dynasties with their favorite schools in the NCAA College Football video game series. But - because of a lawsuit filed by former UCLA Bruin Ed O’Bannon over name, image, and likeness violations - it’s been more than a decade since EA Sports released the game. That wait is almost over, as the game returns next week. Today, ESPN staff writer, Michael Rothstein, who broke the news of the game’s return in 2021, and has been covering the journey ever since, explains why college sports video games were shelved, and tells us just how EA Sports worked to return gamers’ holy grail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After 13 seasons as a splash brother with the Warriors, Klay Thompson is trading in the boats in the Bay for cowboy boots in Dallas, Texas. And it feels like the end of the most recent dynasty in the NBA. But how exactly did it all come to an end? Today, ESPN senior NBA writer Ramona Shelburne explains what forced Klay’s hand, and details how he ended up choosing to moor his boat to the Mavericks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA has been busy since the Celtics locked down their 18th championship. In Los Angeles, JJ Redick has traded in his microphone for a clipboard, becoming the new coach of the Lakers. And one of the first moves on his watch? Drafting Bronny James, fulfilling a father and son moment that the world has been waiting on. Meanwhile, Paul George says goodbye to the Clippers and heads over to Philly, while DeMar DeRozan pulled back up to the west coast, heading from Chicago to Sacramento. So today we talk with ESPN NBA writer Tim Bontemps about which teams look like chevy hitters. And explore which moves could lead to the beginning of the next NBA dynasty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices