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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.
How Far Will Nationals Star Juan Soto Go?
Nationals superstar Juan Soto has won a World Series, made a highlight reel’s worth of big hits, and holds a batting title. All that at 22 years old. A fan favorite in Washington, Soto is known for his swagger and disregard for baseball’s traditional decorum, as well as his megawatt smile. Jeff Passan recently talked with Soto for ESPN’s Cover Story, and he joins the show to explain how Soto’s swing - and his presence - are changing baseball for good. Then, Bill Barnwell runs through the biggest NFL news in trades and free agency.
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42:4029/03/2021
Gonzaga Greatness, Cinderellas and Sister Jean: Sweet 16 Preview
The men’s Sweet 16 begins this weekend, full of unlikely contenders and March stalwarts. Oral Roberts is the Cinderella of the tournament so far, but Loyola Chicago has the power of 101-year-old nun Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt on their side. Gonzaga’s on the brink of a perfect season, but they’ll likely have to get through another #1 seed like Baylor. Myron Medcalf joins us from Indianapolis to preview the next set of matchups, based on his analysis on the tournament so far. Then, Ryan McGee tells us why Bristol Speedway’s become a dirt track this weekend -- the first NASCAR race on dirt in 50 years.
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35:0526/03/2021
Deshaun Watson Faces Assault Allegations
Texans QB Deshaun Watson has been named in over a dozen civil lawsuits filed by a number of Houston area women over the last several days, alleging varying degrees of sexual misconduct and assault. ESPN investigative reporter John Barr takes us through the timeline and details of the cases, and where the legal action could go from here. Then, Texans reporter Sarah Barshop brings us up to speed on the team and NFL’s responses, and what this means for Watson’s future on the field in Houston and around the league.
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30:3325/03/2021
Jeremy Lin and Pablo Torre on Asian-American Identity and Racism
In the time since we reached out to basketball pro Jeremy Lin about the mass shooting in Atlanta where eight people died - six of them women of Asian descent - ten more people have died in a Colorado shooting. Jeremy Lin joins us to share experiences with Pablo as first generation Asian Americans. Lin details his evolution on speaking out against stereotypes, understanding systemic injustice, and framing his identity in the limelight of sports during the NBA’s “Linsanity” period. Plus, what he’s focused on now around levers of social change and his basketball career. Then, Pablo pays tribute to a bird that met its demise via a pitch from Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, 20 years ago.
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34:0324/03/2021
The Evolution of Zion Williamson
In his second NBA season, at just 20 years old, Zion Williamson is putting up numbers that land him alongside legends like Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal. Maybe you caught him in the All-Star Game, but if you haven’t been watching Pelicans games, you’re missing the evolution of a unique basketball talent. ESPN’s Andrew Lopez shares Zion’s accomplishments, and what it’ll take to get him to MVP status. Then, the most famous bowler of all time is retiring after 41 (yes, 41!) years. We remember Pete Weber’s career.
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31:0923/03/2021
What’s In a Name...Image, and Likeness? Social Media and College Athletes
This year’s March Madness hasn’t come without its share of controversy. Michigan’s Isaiah Livers and others have tweeted and donned shirts with the phrase #NotNCAAProperty. And women’s players cried foul online over a paltry weight room and other disparities with the men’s team. It was just the latest example of social media’s power for college athletes, and that includes growing followings across all sports and types of schools. ESPN college sports reporter David Hale details new options and support for player empowerment and profit. And he explores what NIL (name, image, likeness) reform can look like.
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33:0722/03/2021
College Basketball’s BFF’s Jalen Suggs and Paige Bueckers + Sue Bird on Women’s Bracket
Gonzaga freshman Jalen Suggs and UConn freshman Paige Bueckers are the faces of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments. But the two stars go way back: they grew up in neighboring Minnesota cities, and first met when they both were in elementary school. As their basketball careers took off, Suggs and Bueckers stayed in touch and have relied on each other for support, and have remained friends off the court. Katie Barnes shares the story of their unique friendship, and whether NCAA championships are in their future. Then, Sue Bird makes a case for her UConn Huskies to win another women’s championship.
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35:0419/03/2021
Louis Riddick on NFL Free Agency (And the Mind of Bill Belichick)
We’re still many weeks away from the 2021 NFL Draft, and free agency is in full swing. Bill Belichick and the Patriots have been aggressive in acquiring new pieces, while his ex-QB Tom Brady and the Bucs have been focused on bringing back the roster that won the Super Bowl. Louis Riddick breaks down the latest moves as only he can, shares insights from behind the scenes, and tells us what comes next. Then, as the NCAA tournament kicks off, Dave Fleming confirms a trend among male fans ... who get a certain surgery in vast numbers every March.
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38:0818/03/2021
Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Roger Federer: The Surprising Science Behind Epic Athletes
Serena Williams. Tom Brady. Roger Federer. What really goes into making a G.O.A.T.? And extending that greatness for decades? Reporter, best-selling author, and current host of the podcast How To!, David Epstein is one of sports’ top mythbusters. His books The Sports Gene and Range delve into athletes’ lives, minds and habits to find the building blocks of success. Epstein applies his findings to trends like more superstars performing well as they age, and why getting kids to specialize in one sport might actually lead to injury rather than wins.
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33:0917/03/2021
NBA Coastal Elites: The Geography of Basketball Success
Are all NBA superstars destined to leave smaller market teams for Brooklyn, L.A. or Miami? Across the league, high-performing players are gravitating to coastal teams and bigger markets. The trend’s been building for years, increasingly splitting the league into teams that “have” or “have not.” Kirk Goldsberry plots the map and salary data, why this trend is bad for the NBA, and what strategies could turn things around. Then, as part of ESPN’s Women’s History Month celebration, hear from Lisa Salters’ sit-down with NFL referee Sarah Thomas.
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28:3316/03/2021
2021 Bracketology With Jay Bilas
The NCAA Tournament is set! It’s been anything but a normal college basketball season, and March Madness will continue the trend. Gonzaga could become the first team since 1976 to go undefeated and win a national championship, with Baylor, Illinois and Michigan also at the top. Georgetown, led by legendary Hoya Patrick Ewing, is back in the Big Dance. Duke is not in the tournament for the first time in decades. Jay Bilas breaks down the field, region by region, and the path to win it all. Then, insight from the WNBA’s Natasha Cloud as heard on LaChina Robinson’s “I’m Speaking” podcast series, one year since Breonna Taylor’s death.
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32:0415/03/2021
Dak Prescott’s New Deal and the NFL’s Shrinking Salary Cap
The Dallas Cowboys have finally signed Dak Prescott to a four-year, $160 million deal, just five months after his season ending injury. For years, the Cowboys' front office had refused to give in to Dak’s contract demands...until now. ESPN's NFL analyst Mina Kimes breaks down one of the biggest deals in quarterback history and looks at how a shrinking salary cap is impacting NFL rosters. Then, Tottenham superfan (and mom to Mina Kimes) Sun Min Kimes shares her English Premier League takes ahead of this weekend’s match vs. Arsenal.
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34:5112/03/2021
March 11, 2020, One Year Later: Rudy Gobert On Being The NBA’s Patient Zero
One year ago today, on March 11, 2020, the NBA...and the entire world...suddenly stopped. That night, there was one athlete who found his way to the spotlight, and inadvertently became the face of the COVID pandemic as we knew it then: Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. Lisa Salters joins the show to share Gobert’s personal perspective on that night, and Gobert opens up about what it was like to be branded as Patient Zero of American sports. Then, a reflection on what it was like to cover the day in sports on March 11, 2020.
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40:0011/03/2021
Has the NBA’s 3-Point Obsession Gone Too Far?
In basketball there is no greater symbol of the 3-point shot than Golden State’s Steph Curry, who’s spawned a thousand imitators with his prowess. But for every 3-point attempted, is a more dynamic dunk lost? That’s what’s got the NBA on notice. Because, as with any trend, the 3-point obsession may be going too far. ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz explores a new sentiment around the NBA: that the 3-point shot is draining the game of the exact excitement it was meant to deliver. Then Pablo shares the story of a hockey mom who came to the rescue of a man who helped her kids on the ice.
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29:1610/03/2021
March Madness Preview: Who Can Beat Gonzaga?
It’s March, and the 2021 Madness is almost here. Excited beyond belief after a cancelled 2020 tournament, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf is your guide. What’s happened with the bluebloods, as Duke, Kentucky, and Michigan State fight to make it to the Big Dance? Which standout stars might lead their teams to glory? Will 24-0 Gonzaga hold onto its dominance? How have the starts and stops of this pandemic season helped or hurt contenders? Then, Pablo breaks down Dak Prescott’s new deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
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27:3609/03/2021
Ali-Frazier: The “Fight of the Century” 50 Years Later
Fifty years ago today, 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 sports’ biggest moments.
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35:4408/03/2021
The Biggest Contract In San Diego Padres History (Is Not Fernando Tatis Jr.’s)
Fernando Tatis Jr.’s massive 14-year, 340 million dollar deal with the Padres shattered MLB records. But it’s actually not the most important signing of the Padres this offseason. That belongs to Matt LaChappa, who signed with the team again in February, just as he has every year for more than a quarter-century. It’s a baseball story unlike any other: LaChappa is the longest tenured player in Padres history, despite never playing in a major league game. In 1996, LaChappa was a pitcher with San Diego’s minor league affiliate, when he suffered a heart attack while warming up in the bullpen. LaChappa survived, was left permanently disabled and in need of round-the-clock and costly medical care. Ever since, every offseason, the Padres have honored their commitment to Matt and his family by signing him a basic minor league contract, allowing Matt to remain on the team’s health insurance. In a sport where money and loyalty between players and clubs are constantly put to the test, Chris Connelly joins the show to tell a very different kind of baseball story Then, Pablo shares his excitement (or lack thereof) for this weekend’s NBA All-Star festivities.
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30:3905/03/2021
Can Claressa Shields Make Women’s Boxing Must-See TV?
At just 25 years old, Claressa Shields might already be the best women’s boxer of all time. The Flint, Michigan native is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. She’s undefeated in her professional career. And she’s already won titles in three different weight divisions. But this Friday, she is attempting something that could fundamentally change the entire sport. Shields is headlining the first ever all-female pay-per-view boxing card...and doing it without the backing of a major broadcast network. She’s hoping to prove that women’s boxing can draw viewers and put female fighters on a path to one day making the same money as their male counterparts. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein joins the show to tell us about Claressa Shields’ rise as a fighter and how the trail she is blazing might take her to a whole new sport entirely. Then, Pablo reflects on his beloved New York Knicks in their current, fleeting moment of triumph.
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28:4304/03/2021
James Harden Returns to Houston With New Boo: Brooklyn
Tonight James Harden enters his former basketball home, Houston’s Toyota Center, as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. It’s his first time facing the Rockets since his very messy trade in January. After a slow start, Harden and the Nets are thriving. He’s notched seven triple doubles in their recent eight-game winning streak. And that’s even with star Kevin Durant sitting out for injury. ESPN’s Malika Andrews explains how Harden has gone from being a bonus for the Nets, to a reliable asset and leader. Then, Pablo interviews new co-owner of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Chicago Red Stars, Sarah Spain.
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35:1103/03/2021
Future UConn Star Azzi Fudd is Unbreakable
Meet Azzi Fudd, number one women’s high school basketball player in the nation. Fudd has won medals for USA basketball, was the first sophomore to win Gatorade National Player of the Year, and dominated Steph Curry’s camp as one of only two girls participating. Despite her unlimited potential, Fudd has endured setbacks, from major injury to the loss of friends and mentors, including Gigi and Kobe Bryant. Katie Barnes shares their ESPN Cover Story, “Azzi Fudd is Unbreakable,” about the young star’s journey and next steps.
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30:2802/03/2021
Bill Barnwell Breaks Down NFL Quarterback Moves
The NFL quarterback carousel is in full rotation. Russell Wilson reportedly hasn’t requested a trade, but may want out of Seattle. The Deshaun Watson Texans saga has hit a stalemate. Carson Wentz has been shipped off from Philly to Indianapolis. And there are more marquee names likely on the move. Bill Barnwell makes a triumphant return to help us make sense of this chaotic offseason. Then, Pablo reflects on Renee Montgomery as the first former WNBA player to become a team owner and executive, buying a stake in the Atlanta Dream.
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31:1901/03/2021
Zach Lowe on NBA Midseason + Top Shot Update
The Utah Jazz are surprisingly the best team in the NBA. After demolishing the Los Angeles Lakers this week, the Jazz claimed the top spot in the Western Conference -- while the Philadelphia 76ers reign in the East. However, this season is far from over. ESPN’s senior NBA writer Zach Lowe joins the show to dissect the biggest NBA storylines in his midseason report, including potential trades. Then Brian Windhorst returns for an update on NBA Top Shot, where more than $200 million dollars has now traded hands for “digital collectibles.”
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36:0226/02/2021
An NHL Star Is Accused of Assault. Is He Being Targeted For Opposing Vladimir Putin?
It’s a hockey story that spans from Manhattan to Moscow. Here in America, Artemi Panarin is a star winger, an MVP candidate, and arguably the best player on the New York Rangers. But back home in Russia, the 29-year-old is something far more dangerous: the most vocal athlete opponent of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Today, Emily Kaplan explains the explosive accusations that have sidelined Panarin from the National Hockey League. Then, The Washington Post’s Moscow correspondent, Isabelle Khurshudyan, gives us the view on Panarin from inside Russia...and whether the Kremlin could actually be involved.
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28:3325/02/2021
Tiger Woods: Latest Updates + “America’s Son” Documentary
On Tuesday morning, Tiger Woods was involved in a serious car accident outside of Los Angeles, where he was taken to a hospital to treat his injuries. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne brings us the latest from her reporting on the scene. Then, another listen to Pablo’s conversation with ESPN’s Lauren Stowell about her documentary on Tiger Woods, “America’s Son.” She re-examines “Tigermania,” which only grew after Woods’ Masters win in 1997, through the prisms of race and history. “America’s Son” can be screened on ESPN+.
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43:1524/02/2021
Inside the Dual Legacies of NFL Players Union Boss DeMaurice Smith
Last year's CBA should have been a defining moment for DeMaurice Smith and the labor force of America's most popular sport. Instead, some players -- and some owners -- have come to see Smith as an asset to management. Don Van Natta explains Smith’s negotiations with the NFL on behalf of the players union…and whether or not Smith is ultimately in an unwinnable position.
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34:5123/02/2021
Spring Training 2021: Dominant Dodgers, Upstart Padres, and Everybody Else
MLB spring training is upon us! After a long offseason of big trades and bigger contracts being signed, baseball has finally returned. The defending World Series champion Dodgers bolstered their already deep rotation by signing Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer, but the biggest threat to their potential dynasty might be 122 miles down the 5 Freeway. The Padres locked up Fernando Tatis for the next 14 years in addition to adding Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Blake Snell to their pitching rotation. In the American League, the Yankees are poised to finally get over the hump…if they can stay healthy. Jeff Passan joins us to break down everything we need to know about spring training. Then, Pablo reflects on Naomi Osaka’s speaking against violence toward Asian-Americans.
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30:0422/02/2021
The Game Before: One City's Soccer Obsession and Its COVID Crisis
The Italian town of Bergamo is fiercely loyal to its soccer team, Atalanta B.C. As the perennial underdogs made a run to the Champions League 2020 quarterfinals, Atalanta drew tens of thousands of Bergamo fans to hug, cry, sing and celebrate for their win. No one knew then it was the last time they’d gather like that. Just as fans returned to their homes, Bergamo became an epicenter of coronavirus infection that led to thousands of deaths. Sam Borden tells the story of how a tight-knit culture and fandom made Bergamo vulnerable to the pandemic. And how that very closeness, along with the hope of cheering Atalanta again, offers a path forward from devastating loss.
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46:0519/02/2021
Can NBA Top Shot Become Basketball’s Bitcoin?
Pelicans star Zion Williamson has starred in almost super-humanlike highlights in his young NBA career, but are they worth hundreds of thousands of dollars? It’s a concept that the NBA is banking on, with their newest digital memorabilia venture: NBA Top Shot, a marketplace that is something of a cross between trading cards and Bitcoin. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst explains what NBA Top Shot is, its value, and the risks involved when entering the volatile world of crypto. Then, a preview of Friday’s show: where Sam Borden takes us to Bergamo, Italy, a sports-crazed town devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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32:3718/02/2021
Paige Bueckers Dominates at UConn + WNBA Free Agency Moves
University of Connecticut freshman Paige Bueckers has notched three straight 30-point games. This historic run has placed her in conversation with all-time great UConn stars like Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart. Could she catapult to greatest UConn player...ever? ESPN’s LaChina Robinson breaks down how Paige makes plays. Then, over in the WNBA, it’s a hot free agency season. Candace Parker left L.A. after more than a decade. The Liberty signed Natasha Howard. And there are more major moves to discuss. And Howard University men’s basketball coach Kenny Blakeney explains why his team cancelled the rest of their season.
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32:2717/02/2021
The Life of Legendary Georgetown Coach John Thompson Jr.
The late John Thompson Jr. was one of the most legendary coaches in the history of college basketball. As head coach at Georgetown, Thompson was the first Black coach to win a championship. And his towering influence off the court might even surpass his basketball success. Jesse Washington joins the show to remember Coach Thompson's impact and share stories from their co-authored autobiography, "I Came As A Shadow." And check out the new initiative from ESPN and The Undefeated, Black History Always.
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34:2716/02/2021
Former NFL Players Sue Over Discrimination in Concussion Claims
The NFL's concussion settlement set terms for compensating retired players who show cognitive impairment after playing football. But two NFL veterans have taken legal action because they say the claims process discriminates against Black players, making it harder for them to be compensated. Ryan Smith joins the show to discuss the cases of Najeh Davenport and Kevin Henry, why and how race was factored into their claims, and how the NFL has responded.
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32:5215/02/2021
20 Years Later: How Dale Earnhardt's Death Changed NASCAR Forever
NASCAR is back this weekend, with the 63rd running of The Great American Race...The Daytona 500. But the excitement this year is tempered by the sobering reminder that it’s the 20th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt. When Earnhardt died in an accident on the final lap of Daytona in 2001, the tragedy finally prompted a change in NASCAR that many thought was long overdue. Safety standards and equipment designed to prevent the type of injury that killed Earnhardt became widely adopted. There may not be a bigger example of how far the sport has come than last year’s Daytona 500, when Ryan Newman’s car flipped, was driven through, and landed upside down in a fiery collision during the final lap. Many first believed that Newman had died, but he walked out of the hospital two days later, largely due to the additional safety measures put in place in the wake of Earnhardt’s death. ESPN’s Ryan McGee joins us to talk about the latest E:60 film, “Intimidator,” examining Earnhardt’s legacy and how his death changed NASCAR forever.
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37:2912/02/2021
The Great Super Bowl Rings Heist
It’s a heist story straight out of Hollywood, about a thief who would make Danny Ocean proud. Who is this criminal mastermind, who stole the New York Giants’ Super Bowl rings? Meet Sean Murphy: a die-hard Patriots fan, owner of a moving company, and a self-described master thief. He, like many Pats fans, watched in agony as the New York Giants pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history in 2008. A few months later, Murphy was researching local jewelers for a potential target when he came across E.A. Dion, a family-owned business…who also happened to be making the Giants’ Super Bowl rings. From there, a super-sized heist was put into motion. ESPN correspondent Sam Borden joins us to take a look back at how Murphy pulled off the steal...and how he got caught.
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33:0811/02/2021
The Rise Of The Suns’ Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is perhaps the most overlooked superstar in the NBA. At age 24, Booker is the only active NBA player with a 70 point game, and his dominating eight game stretch in the NBA Bubble this summer earned him a reputation as one of the league’s premiere scorers. ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon takes us back to Booker’s roots in the latest “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. Then, a close read of Tom Brady’s Instagram as he basked in his reaffirmed G.O.A.T status.
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29:2510/02/2021
New Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson’s Next Chapter
Calvin Johnson is officially a Pro Football Hall of Famer! Johnson (a.k.a. “Megatron”) spent nine seasons with the Detroit Lions, and is regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. During his NFL career, he sought solutions for pain management and found cannabis. He’s now teamed up with former Lion Rob Sims for a new post-NFL chapter: a cannabis startup. ESPN Detroit Lions reporter Mike Rothstein joins us to explain Johnson’s relationship with his old team five years after his retirement, and go behind the scenes of his new venture. Then, Howard Bryant shares a remembrance for the late Pedro Gomez, the beloved ESPN baseball reporter who passed away this weekend.
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30:1509/02/2021
Super Bowl LV: How Tom Brady’s Bucs Upset The Chiefs
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Super Bowl champions! Tampa’s defense held the Chiefs to three field goals, while Gronk and Brady’s historic connection catapulted the Bucs to victory. Despite Patrick Mahomes’ acrobatic throws on the run while battling a lingering foot injury, the KC offense looked lackluster. And the Chiefs’ defense had no answer for Brady, who’s now earned his seventh Super Bowl ring. Plus we had (some) fans in the stands, an eye-popping halftime show by The Weeknd, and even a fan on the field. Bill Barnwell takes us through the biggest factors in the Big Game. Then Pablo pays homage to basketball scout Tom Konchalski, known for his hand-mailed newsletters and commitment to his craft.
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30:2408/02/2021
REPLAY: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: From Super Bowl Champ to the COVID Frontline
As a bonus episode on the eve of Super Bowl LV, we are respinning our December show on Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. In February 2020, Duvernay-Tardif was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV...and then, everything changed. With the world coming to a standstill as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Duvernay-Tardif, the only player in the NFL today with a medical degree, immediately took action and began working at a long-term healthcare facility in his native Quebec. In July, Duvernay-Tardif became the first NFL player to opt out of the 2020-21 regular season to continue his efforts on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. Canada's TSN feature producer Matt Dorman has covered Duvernay-Tardif’s singular journey up-close, and shares his remarkable story.
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29:2006/02/2021
Super Bowl LV: Can the Bucs Slow Down Patrick Mahomes?
Super Bowl LV is finally here! After a turbulent season, Tom Brady and his newfound Bucs host Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who are seeking their second-straight title. What’s changed for these teams since they met in Week 12? Do the Bucs have a new plan to stop the Chiefs’ explosive offense? And can Tom Brady walk away with yet another Super Bowl ring? Mina Kimes brings us her insights and previews the big game. Then, 50 years ago astronaut Alan Shepard’s took a golf shot on the surface of the moon. Victoria Nenno of the US Golf Association Museum details the only out-of-this-world sports moment
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35:0105/02/2021
Travis and Jason Kelce: Bond of Brothers
Love him or hate him, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is one of the best in the NFL. But beyond the flamboyance and flash, there’s a side most people haven’t seen...especially when it comes to his big brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce. Ahead of Travis’s second-straight Super Bowl appearance, Lisa Salters brings us inside the relationship between the two brothers. In fact, Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target may never have made it to the league if not for big brother Jason’s interventions along the way. Then, director Ken Rodgers explains how he used deepfake technology to bring former Raiders owner Al Davis and former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle “back to life” for the new 30 for 30 film “Al Davis vs. The NFL.”
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31:5004/02/2021
Why 10 Super Bowl Appearances Won't Satisfy Tom Brady
This Sunday, Tom Brady will make his tenth Super Bowl appearance, where he’s seeking his seventh ring. It’s a season that began with doubts about whether Brady could succeed away from New England and Bill Belichick...and has only strengthened his case as the greatest QB of All-Time. Seth Wickersham has covered Brady up-close for two decades, and joins the show to explain how Brady’s acknowledgment of his own limitations on the field has led him to a career of seemingly unlimited success. Then, Doug Kezirian takes us inside the incredibly popular, sometimes bizarre world of Super Bowl prop bets.
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33:4803/02/2021
Alive: The Drew Robinson Story
Twenty-eight-year-old Drew Robinson is attempting a Major League Baseball return unlike any other. Robinson worked his way through the minors for many years, and in 2017 he finally made the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day roster. But what followed was a bumpy path up and down between leagues and teams. All the while, Robinson struggled with mental health concerns. On April 16th, 2020, Drew Robinson attempted suicide. He lived. And now, with ongoing rehabilitation and therapy, Robinson is re-engaging with pro baseball. ESPN’s Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan shares his reporting behind the ESPN+ special from E:60, “Alive: The Drew Robinson Story.”
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39:4802/02/2021
Matthew Stafford Blockbuster: Will the Rams’ Massive Gamble Pay Off?
The NFL’s biggest trade in years broke Saturday night, with Detroit Lions QB Matt Stafford heading to the LA Rams in exchange for Rams QB Jared Goff, two future first-round picks, and a third-round pick. It’s a move that some say vaults the Rams immediately into Super Bowl contention...but if it fails to pay off, it could hamper the franchise for years to come. Bill Barnwell breaks down whether the Rams’ gamble was worth it...and just how the Lions might go about their rebuilding process under new head coach Dan Campbell. Then, ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk and Marc Spears pay tribute to the late NBA reporter Sekou Smith, who passed away last week due to complications from COVID-19.
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32:3901/02/2021
Deshaun Watson’s Next Destination + Inside the Mind of Bill Walton
One day after the Houston Texans announced David Culley as their new head coach, reports emerged that QB Deshaun Watson has officially requested a trade from the team. Bill Barnwell outlines the three most intriguing destinations for the QB. Hint: two of them are in the AFC East. Then, we take a trip inside the mind of basketball icon and ESPN personality Bill Walton. He takes us on a journey through his career and beyond, and offers his advice to Pablo on life, the universe and everything.
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33:5029/01/2021
Is G League Ignite the NBA’s New Star Factory?
The G League Ignite is the first of its kind: a developmental team, attempting to implement an alternate track to the NBA, outside of the college basketball pipeline. The idea is that players gain skills at the pro level, while earning a salary. Four top prospects are on board, and ESPN’s NBA draft expert Mike Schmitz scouted them ahead of the G League “bubble” next month. He lays out the stakes for the players, the NBA, and the NCAA. Then, more from Pablo on the GameStop financial story that’s all over the internet, and how it’s connected to sports.
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29:0528/01/2021
How 9/11 Set Robert Saleh on the Path to Coaching the New York Jets
It’s been just days since Robert Saleh began his tenure in possibly the most challenging job in football...head coach of the New York Jets. But the former 49ers Defensive Coordinator is already drawing praise from players and analysts alike, who think he may just be the guy who can turn around the long struggling franchise. But Saleh’s path to the Jets sideline has been as unusual as it is groundbreaking. Jets reporter Rich Cimini brings us the story of how September 11th, 2001 changed Saleh’s life forever, and set him on a course to become the first Muslim head coach in NFL history. Then, Domonique Foxworth joins us to discuss the lack of diversity in NFL coaching hires.
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32:3727/01/2021
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol: Black Mamba and White Swan
One year ago the world lost Kobe Bryant. Few knew about the bond Kobe shared with Pau Gasol. He remembers his former Laker teammate as a true friend, father and competitor. Gasol has spent time with the Bryant family over the past year, and shared his insights on Kobe’s life and loss with ESPN NBA Insider Ramona Shelburne. Hear what her reporting revealed about the softer side of the Black Mamba.
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35:3926/01/2021
Super Bowl is Set: Brady Beams + Mahomes Magic
Kansas City has a date with Tampa for Super Bowl LV. It’ll be the first Super Bowl in NFL history with a home team also hosting the big game. Bill Barnwell breaks down the games that got them there. Tom Brady threw three interceptions, but looked every bit the GOAT in the Bucs’ win over the Packers. And Patrick Mahomes looked as healthy as ever in the Chiefs’ rout over the Bills. Plus, Hank Aaron’s legacy in baseball and beyond with Dr. Damion Thomas of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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35:3525/01/2021
NFL Conference Championship Preview: G.O.A.T.S Graze, Young Guns Blaze
The NFC and AFC Conference Championship games kick off this weekend with some of the best matchups...and most compelling storylines in recent memory. Will Aaron Rodgers redeem his abysmal Week 6 performance against Tom Brady and the Bucs? With Patrick Mahomes’ status in limbo, who will be the X Factor between the Chiefs and Bills? Mina Kimes explains why she’s more excited for this weekend than the Super Bowl, and gives her prediction for who will play for the Lombardi Trophy. Then, Bucs superfan and legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale shares his wisdom going into the weekend.
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29:1722/01/2021
Deshaun Watson’s Murky Future with the Texans
Deshaun Watson is everything the Houston Texans want in their quarterback. But after a lackluster season, Texans leadership has made this once-happy marriage look tough to fix. Tensions rose as owner Cal McNair excluded Watson from the new GM decision, after saying he’d have input. Now fans are looking for signs as to whether Watson wants out. ESPN Texans reporter Sarah Barshop shares where Houston management went wrong, what Watson’s thinking, and what it’ll take to patch things up. Then, Mina Kimes takes us through the career, legacy, and faces of the now retired Philip Rivers.
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31:2421/01/2021
The Evolution of Joel Embiid + Mets Fire GM
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is known as the NBA’s biggest troll. But new Sixers coach Doc Rivers is committed to Embiid as the face of the franchise. And while the star’s stock remains volatile, it’s now trending up. Ramona Shelburne shares insights from her recent reporting and conversations with Embiid. Then, Jeff Passan takes us behind his reporting on New York Mets general manager Jared Porter’s harassment of a female journalist, and what the fallout says about baseball culture.
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34:2020/01/2021