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The ESPN Daily podcast: How to listen, episode guide and more
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THE ESPN DAILY PODCAST: HOW TO LISTEN, EPISODE GUIDE AND MORE
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Oct 4, 2021
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ESPN Daily kicks off your morning with the best sports story you'll hear all
day. Monday through Friday, host Pablo Torre brings you an inside look at the
most interesting stories at ESPN, as told by the top reporters and insiders on
the planet.
It's where the breaking news of SportsCenter meets the deep dive storytelling of
30 for 30.
Get the very best of ESPN -- daily.
LISTEN TO ESPN DAILY
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EPISODE ARCHIVE
Many podcast platforms limit the number of episodes in the show feed, but the
entire archive of ESPN Daily episodes is available in the playlist above and the
list below. Depending on the day and time, recent episodes might only appear in
the playlist above.
Oct. 4: Alex Smith on NFL's Week 4: Brady Back in NE, Murray Magic, and Jets Win
Back in Foxborough to play his old team and his old coach, Tom Brady became the
NFL's all-time leading passer as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers eeked out a win after
a missed field goal by the Patriots. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals established
themselves with a 37-20 thrashing of the Rams in LA, while the Cowboys' hot
start continued with a win over the previously undefeated Panthers ... AND the
Jets got their first win of the season! Alex Smith takes us inside the huddle
and breaks down what we saw in Week 4.
Oct. 2: The Birth and Life of Pardon the Interruption
You know the show PTI, you love the show PTI. But how did it all start?
Celebrating 20 years of Pardon the Interruption, co-hosts Tony Kornheiser,
Michael Wilbon and a cast of media luminaries share the untold tale of this
duo's meeting at The Washington Post. Hear how the dynamic in the legendary
newsroom unexpectedly set them up for success at ESPN. Kornheiser and Wilbon
reflect on their apprehensive beginnings in television, and how they were
convinced to make the iconic sports studio show that changed their lives
forever.
Oct. 1: Bill Barnwell's NFL Rookie QB Report Card
In the first three weeks of the NFL season, the 2021 rookie quarterback class
has...struggled. Bears QB Justin Fields was sacked nine times on Sunday,
Jaguars' playcaller Trevor Lawrence has been turning over the ball under
pressure, and Zach Wilson hasn't been set up to succeed by the Jets. Bill
Barnwell assesses what's gone wrong for the rookie QBs so far, and whether we'll
see improvement. Then: Pablo asks for your help! It's October, so in the spirit
of the season, we're asking you to share your sports superstitions with us...and
you might just hear them on the show. Leave us a message at 424-438-0717, and
tell us about your weird and wacky sports superstitions.
Sep. 30: Major Problem in the Minor Leagues - Baseball's Big Myth
Baseball is supposed to be romantic, right? America's pastime is predicated on
tradition, hard work, and luck in getting to the show of MLB. But making it to
the big leagues has become harder than ever. Minor leaguers today face pay that
puts them below the poverty line, grueling schedules, and little support for the
mental health and other problems that can arise from that. Joon Lee brings us a
deep dive into the world of the minor leagues.
Sep. 29: How the Patriots Dynasty Unraveled with Seth Wickersham
It might be the most hyped regular season game in NFL history, as Tom Brady
returns to New England on Sunday night to face his old mentor, Bill Belichick.
For 20 years, the relationship between Brady and Belichick, along with owner
Robert Kraft, was the foundation of the Patriots dynasty. And no one has covered
Patriots dynasty, and divorce, like Seth Wickersham, whose new book "It's Better
To Be Feared" is the culmination of two decades of provocative reporting on that
singular football partnership. Wickersham joins the show to share new details
about the greatest dynasty the NFL has ever seen, and why, despite winning six
Super Bowls together, all of it had to end.
Sep. 28: MLB Playoff Chaos with Jeff Passan
With less than a week remaining in baseball's regular season, chaos is upon us.
The once-dead Yankees have surged atop the AL Wild Card hunt, where five teams
are chasing two playoff spots. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have won 16 straight to
all but secure their spot in the postseason, where they'll face whichever of the
Giants and Dodgers don't win the NL West. Jeff Passan stops by to break it all
down. Then, Pablo shares a preview of the upcoming "Pardon the Interruption"
20th anniversary documentary and podcast series.
Sep. 27: Alex Smith on Rodgers' Magic, Mahomes' Stumble...and a Wild NFL Week 3
In the end, 37 seconds was too much time. That's all it took for Aaron Rodgers
to orchestrate a thrilling last minute drive to set up the Packers' game winning
field goal over the 49ers. And that wasn't the only last second drama across the
NFL's Week 3. Baltimore's Justin Tucker nailed a 66-yard game winning field
goal, the longest in league history to beat the Lions in Detroit. Elsewhere,
Matthew Stafford and the Rams took down Tom Brady and the Bucs, and Justin
Herbert and the Chargers upset Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Former NFL QB
Alex Smith takes us inside the huddle and brings us his insights on Sunday's
football action. Then, Louis Riddick previews Monday Night Football's NFC East
showdown between the Eagles and Cowboys.
Sep. 24: Spencer Hall on SEC Madness, Week 4 CFB Matchups, and the Best NIL
Deals
Fall is finally here, and your autumnal Saturday agenda might be packed with
trips to pumpkin patches and apple picking...or.... it could be spent watching
wall-to-wall college football. We know what gentleman and SEC scholar Spencer
Hall will be doing. Today, Spencer joins the show to dissect last week's
Florida-Alabama heartbreaker, and whether the Crimson Tide are (ever)
vulnerable. Then, we take a spin around the Big 10, and Spencer unveils some of
his favorite name, image, and likeness deals, from scented candles to Arby's
(yes, really).
Sep. 23: WNBA Playoffs Preview - Liberty's Path to Upset, Sun Seeks 1st
Championship, Storm's Quest to Repeat
The WNBA playoffs tip off tonight, with a pair of win-or-go-home games. The New
York Liberty and Sabrina Ionescu, who squeaked into the playoffs as the eighth
seed, are looking to shock the world by knocking off Diana Taurasi and the
Phoenix Mercury. The Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky also have a first round date,
which if they advance...could see them face last year's champs, the Seattle
Storm, in the second round. But with Breanna Stewart, the MVP from the 2020
finals nursing an ankle injury, the Storm are no longer favorites to repeat.
Instead, the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun have claimed the top seeds
and are guaranteed semifinal berths. LaChina Robinson brings us her insights on
the playoff field, and shares where she hopes the league will go in its next 25
years.
Sep. 22: The Purrfect Tale of Baseball's Rally Cat
Cats are making cameos all over sports right now, from a stray at Yankee Stadium
to a dangling feline in Miami. But ESPN's Liz Merrill has the original wild and
twisting tale of the St. Louis Cardinals' Rally Cat. When the kitten crawled
onto the field during the bottom of the sixth in a 2017 game against the Kansas
Cit Royals, Yadier Molina proceeded to hit a go-ahead grand slam on the very
next pitch. Hear the story of the all-out search that followed for the Rally
Cat, and the heated fight over where it should live.
Sep. 21: An Olympic Runner's Fight to Stop Her Stalker
Any runner would say the best advice in a race is to look forward. But what if
you had to keep looking over your shoulder? Olympic runner Emily Infeld's career
as an elite athlete slowed down when a stalker invaded her life. ESPN reporter
Paula Lavigne shares her investigation of the three years Infeld has lived in
fear and fought for justice and peace, while facing many systemic failures along
the way.
Sep. 20: NFL Week 2: Monday QB with Alex Smith
This second Sunday of the NFL season was full of absolutely great plays, and
gave us a lot of telling looks at quarterbacks, including backups stepping in
due to injury. Baltimore got a dazzling win over the Chiefs, as Patrick Mahomes
and Lamar Jackson met up for the fourth time since Jackson entered the league on
Sunday Night Football. We picked the best moments and give you tailored insights
from NFL veteran QB Alex Smith.
Sep. 17: Super League Rage, Ronaldo Mania and the Fight for the Soul of Man
United
When arguably the world's most popular athlete, Cristiano Ronaldo, took the
pitch this past weekend for arguably the world's most popular soccer club,
Manchester United, two truly global sports brands were reunited on the legendary
pitch at Old Trafford. The same iconic stadium, that months earlier, was
literally stormed by Man United supporters who were fighting against the
globalization of the sport they love. Wright Thompson, who was there for
Ronaldo's return to the team he played for more than a decade ago, takes us
inside the fight for the soul of Manchester United, and explains why it's a
battle that's about much more than just a soccer club.
Sep. 16: Raiders Put on a Show in Vegas, But Will Their Luck Stick?
The Raiders' first win in Las Vegas with fans was a homecoming two years in the
making. The show paid homage to the Silver and Black's roots in Oakland and Los
Angeles, while the game itself was such a frenzy that the Raiders seemed to win
twice (?!) in overtime. Paul Gutierrez joins us from Sin City after its first
Monday Night Football hangover, and tells us how Jon Gruden's team can build on
their success.
Sep. 15: Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s Home Run Race, All-Star Dad, and Clutch Abuela
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the midst of a season unlike any his family has ever
seen, and that's saying a lot. Vlady just hit more single-season home runs with
the Toronto Blue Jays than his all-star father, Canada baseball hero Vlad Sr.,
ever did. Now Vlad Jr. has the Triple Crown in his sights. Plus he's led his
Blue Jays to the cusp of the postseason, as they return to Toronto after Covid
exile in Buffalo, New York. Devin Gordon tells us how Vlady went from Canada's
golden son to quietly becoming his own legend.
Sep. 14: The Wild Ride of the '86 Mets: Inside "Once Upon a Time in Queens"
"Once Upon a Time in Queens," the newest film from 30 for 30, chronicles the
1986 New York Mets: a team stacked with perhaps more larger-than-life characters
than any other in baseball history. From Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden to
Lenny Dykstra and Keith Hernandez, it was a team that worked hard and played
harder - and a team that mirrored the dangerous and exciting aura of New York in
the 1980's. Director Nick Davis takes us behind-the-scenes of the film, and
shares how the '86 Mets became the definitive New York baseball team of the era.
Sep. 13: NFL Week 1 With Alex Smith, Domonique Foxworth and Louis Riddick
NFL players turned analysts Alex Smith, Louis Riddick, and Domonique Foxworth
join Pablo to break down the first games of the season. First, WFT former QB
Alex Smith shares what it's like weighing in on games instead of playing them,
and highliights from early in the day. Then, Bears vs. Rams and the afternoon
games with Domonique Foxworth. Plus, Monday Night Football's Louis Riddick tells
us what to watch for from Vegas as the Raiders take on the Ravens.
Sep. 11: How 9/11 Set Robert Saleh on the Path to Coaching the New York Jets
(Re-Air)
Tomorrow, Robert Saleh begins his tenure in possibly the most challenging job in
football...head coach of the New York Jets. The former 49ers Defensive
Coordinator has already drawn praise from players and analysts alike, who think
he may just be the guy who can turn around the long struggling franchise.
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.
Sep. 10: Is Ben Simmons Really Done in Philadelphia?
Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia, and seems like the 76ers have had enough
of him as well. The relationship between the former first overall pick and
Philly has bent to a likely breaking point since the team exited last season's
NBA playoffs. Simmons' disappointing performance drew sharp criticism from star
teammate Joel Embiid and head coach Doc Rivers. Brian Windhorst explains what
happens now that Simmons and the Sixers have gone sour, possible landing spots
for him, and what the saga shows about power in the NBA.
Sep. 9: The 2021 Dallas Cowboys: David or Goliath?
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones displayed rare humility when he compared his team's
opening night matchup against the defending Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers as
"David vs. Goliath." And while after a quarter century of mediocrity, the
Cowboys may indeed be David on the field, off the field, they still remain the
NFL's Goliath. They are worth almost $7 billion according to Sportico, which
puts them atop the list of most valuable franchises in sports despite not
winning a Super Bowl since 1996. Tim Cowlishaw has covered the Cowboys since
1989, so he explains why they continue to be America's Team...and if a return to
glory is at hand. Then, Leylah Fernandez makes history at the US Open.
Sep. 8: Mina Kimes' NFL Season Preview
The NFL is back after surviving a gauntlet of a 2020 season. As Tom Brady aims
to defend his title in Tampa, Bill Belichick seems to have found his heir
apparent in QB Mac Jones, at the expense of Cam Newton. Several more rookie
quarterbacks prepare to take the field in Week 1, while others wait. And with
the Delta variant running rampant, teams are doing all they can to control the
chaos. Mina Kimes is about to head into ESPN's NFL war room, so before she goes
we get her league season preview.
Sep. 7: Why States are Sending Transgender Athletes to the Sidelines
American politicians cannot stop talking about young transgender athletes. Eight
states now have laws or policies on the books restricting transgender athletes'
access to youth sports, with seven states enacting them in 2021 alone. And
nearly three dozen states have introduced similar bills. As a new school year
begins and youth sports regain a foothold after pandemic precautions, these
proposals have transgender kids stuck in the middle of the ongoing and often
ugly battle over science and assumption, sex and gender identity, politics and
policy. Katie Barnes covers transgender issues for ESPN and joins the show to
explain the contours of the debate.
Sep. 6: ICYMI: What We're Made Of: A Vaccine Pioneer and Her Olympian Daughter
(Re-air)
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Susan Francia's 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. In a re-air of one our favorite episodes, 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 feature "What We're Made Of."
Sep. 3: ICYMI: 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, in a re-spin of one of
our favorite episodes.
Sep. 2: ICYMI: Love in the Time of Hockey Riots
10 years ago, 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. In a re-spin of one of our favorite
episodes, Greg Wyshynski caught up with the couple, and the photographer, and
joins the show to share how that iconic image endures to this day.
Sep. 1: ICYMI: 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 in
a re-spin of one of our favorite episodes, to take a look back at how Murphy
pulled off the steal...and how he got caught.
Aug. 31: ICYMI: Funny Money, a Secret Recording, and the Unraveling of a
Powerhouse Football Program
When the winningest team in high school football hired the most controversial
coach in high school football, heads turned all over the state of Georgia. What
ensued was a 15-month saga of small-town, big time football that ended up
dividing an entire town. In a re-air of one of our favorite episodes, Mark
Schlabach brings us a story of funny money, a secret recording, and the
unraveling of a powerhouse high school football program in Valdosta, Georgia.
Aug. 30: How Dale Earnhardt's Death Changed NASCAR Forever (Best-Of)
Twenty years ago, when Earnhardt died in an accident on the final lap of Daytona
in 2001, the tragedy prompted a change in NASCAR that many thought was long
overdue. The sport took up safety standards and equipment designed to prevent
the type of injury that killed Earnhardt. There may not be a bigger example of
how far the sport has come than 2020's Daytona 500, when Ryan Newman's car
flipped 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 shares how Earnhardt's death changed NASCAR
forever, also told in the ESPN film "Intimidator."
Aug. 27: Paul Finebaum on College Football Chaos
As the college football season starts, the PAC-12, ACC, and Big Ten announced a
new alliance. The purpose of the teamup is unclear...but no doubt is influenced
by power and money, and the looming specter of the Southeastern Conference in
the college football sphere. ESPN's Paul Finebaum walks us through the
implications of the changes off the field, and who might dominate on the field.
Then, former NBA champion J.R. Smith is now a member of the North Carolina A&T
State golf team, so current student East L. Dockery shares reporting on Smith's
next act.
Aug. 26: Card Tricks - Why Topps Got Toppled + The $6.6mil Record-Setter
In the world of trading cards, one company's loomed large: Topps. But this week
a company known for sports apparel, Fanatics, outbid Topps for the right to make
cards with Major League Baseball. It also made deals with the NBA and NFL, and
this major shakeup in sports memorabilia is worth billions of dollars. Dan
Hajducky covers collectibles for ESPN. He shares his reporting on the Fanatics
coup, plus the Honus Wagner card that sold for $6.6 million.
Aug. 25: Matthew Stafford's Second Chance
When the Los Angeles Rams traded for Matthew Stafford this offseason, they
delivered one of the NFL's biggest arms to one of its biggest brains: head coach
Sean McVay. Over a dozen years in Detroit, Stafford put up big individual
numbers, but the Lions' lackluster talent meant that his ability was often
squandered on teams that had no real chance at contending for a Super Bowl. That
is no longer the case, as Stafford, McVay, and the rest of the Rams franchise
know that nothing less than the Lombardi Trophy will be considered a success:
it's Super Bowl or bust in LA. Today, Seth Wickersham takes us behind the scenes
of how the Stafford trade went down, what it all says about quarterbacks in the
modern era, and how Cabo, apparently, is the nexus of power in the NFL. Then,
Pablo shares his ode to the creepiest college mascot in America.
Aug. 24: Murder at the U - Arrest Made in Bryan Pata Case
On November 7th, 2006, Bryan Pata, a defensive lineman for the University of
Miami Hurricanes, was shot and killed when he returned home after football
practice. He was just 22 years old. For nearly 15 years, no one was arrested in
connection with Pata's killing. That changed last week, with the stunning arrest
of Pata's former Miami teammate, Rashaun Jones. Today, we revisit our
conversation from November with investigative reporter Paula Lavigne, who was
part of ESPN's multi-year probe into Pata's killing that pointed out missteps in
the long stalled police inquiry. Then, we discuss what led to the stunning
arrest last week...and where the case might go from here.
Aug. 23: What's Next for Deshaun Watson Investigations and Texans
Texans' quarterback Deshaun Watson is the subject of several investigations and
22 civil lawsuits. Allegations from many women range from inappropriate conduct
to sexual assault. The FBI is also looking into the case, and the NFL's own
investigation on Watson has come under scrutiny. ESPN's Sarah Barshop brings us
the latest on the plaintiffs and the defense, plus how Watson's presence is
shaping the Texans' preseason. Then, Pablo shares how runner Elaine
Thompson-Herah almost became the fastest woman in the world...and beat Sha'Carri
Richardson.
Aug. 20: The Fight of Manny Pacquiao's Life
There are few, if any, boxers in history with the resume of Manny Pacquiao.
Inside the ring, he has won twelve major titles across EIGHT different weight
classes. Outside the ring, he has been elected first, to the House of
Representatives, and later, to the Senate back home in the Philippines. And now,
Pacquiao appears to be gearing up to run for president of the Philippines. It's
a move that would put him in direct conflict with the current president Rodrigo
Duterte, a leader whose autocratic tendencies suggest he is not afraid to fight
dirty...and have left some in Pacquiao's camp concerned for Manny's safety, as
well as their own. With Pacquiao taking the ring tomorrow night, perhaps the
final time in his storied career, Tim Keown joins the show to discuss how
Pacquaio's latest fight, the fight for the highest office in the Philippines,
will be his most challenging yet.
Aug. 19: The Magic of the Little League World Series
The Little League World Series returns to action in Williamsport, PA today.
While it won't be the truly global event it usually is, kids will still play
their hearts out in the games. ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian will be there,
and he tells guest host Emily Kaplan what makes this event so magical, and what
to watch for as the games begin. Then, a look at the female athletes affected by
the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
Aug. 18: Will the Urban Meyer Experiment Work in the NFL?
It's rare when a team that's coming off a 1-15 season is considered intriguing,
but here we are with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They retooled their franchise at
the hands of legendary college head coach Urban Meyer, and there may or may not
be a battle for the starting quarterback spot between number one overall pick
Trevor Lawrence and Gardner Minshew (Hint: there's not.) Then, there's the Tim
Tebow of it all, who signed as a tight end in the offseason, but was cut after
the first preseason game. ESPN's Jeff Darlington brings his view on how the Jags
performed last week, and shares what fans should expect from them this season
with guest host Emily Kaplan. Then, the U.S. women's national hockey team
reached a one-year deal with USA Hockey, but the fight for equal treatment in
women's sports is still ongoing.
Aug. 17: Is Justin Fields the Answer for the Bears?
The NFL is back! Well, the preseason if that's your thing. And it is indeed
Louis Riddick's thing! The ESPN analyst, former NFL player and pro scout tells
us all about the preseason debut of Justin Fields with the Chicago Bears. Fields
was the fourth quarterback selected in 2021, but looked more than NFL ready as
he completed 14/20 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for another
touchdown and 33 yards. He even said the game felt "slow." So just how ready is
Justin Fields to start as QB of the Chicago Bears? Then, The Honus Wagner
reclaims its throne as the king of all sports cards.
Aug. 16: Court Hearings Begin in Trevor Bauer Assault Case
In Los Angeles this week, Trevor Bauer and a woman who has accused him of
assault are expected to testify in court. The 27-year-old woman, whose name ESPN
is not revealing, says Bauer assaulted her over the course of two sexual
encounters in April and May. A judge will decide whether to make permanent the
temporary restraining order the woman was granted against Bauer in June. Bauer's
future in MLB is unclear, as the pitcher remains on administrative leave from
the Dodgers. ESPN's Alden Gonzalez has been following the case, and shares his
reporting, done in partnership with ESPN's Tisha Thompson.
Aug.13: Matthew Berry's 7 Habits of Highly Effective Fantasy Drafters
August is ESPN's Matthew Berry's favorite time of year: fantasy draft season.
After participating in hundreds of thousands of drafts over his long fantasy
career, Berry has everyone from Jay-Z to the Avengers cast asking him who they
should draft. To better your chances this upcoming fantasy football season,
Berry shares his "7 Habits of Highly Effective Drafters," so you too can
dominate your peers. Then, following Major League Baseball's "Field of Dreams"
game last night, ESPN Daily's own Ryan Nantell shares a story of his time on the
storied diamond from the 1989 film...that turned into something closer to a
nightmare.
Aug. 12: The "New" Tom Brady - How the G.O.A.T. Found his Voice in Tampa Bay
It's not often you hear about a 7-time Super Bowl champion re-inventing himself,
but that's exactly what Tom Brady is doing...at 44 years old. We've seen Brady
show more personality over the past year in Tampa Bay than he ever did in 20
seasons in New England. From his tipsy Super Bowl boat parade back in February,
to joking about his age with President Biden, to his sudden embrace of memes on
social media...Brady is finally showing a side of himself that is funnier, more
candid...and maybe even, human. Brady's personal development also coincides with
the evolution of the Buccaneers' already stout defense, which he may need now
more than ever following his knee surgery in the offseason. ESPN reporter Jenna
Laine joins us to talk all things Tom Brady, and if we should expect to see him
play in Saturday's preseason opener. Then, the soon-to-be-new governor of New
York may have a personal interest in keeping the Bills in her hometown of
Buffalo.
Aug. 11: 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.
Aug. 10: 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.
Aug. 9: 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.
Aug. 6: 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.
Aug. 5: 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.
Aug. 4: 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.
Aug. 3: 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.
Aug. 2: Tokyo Games Week Two Begins + NBA Free Agency
As the Olympics move into their 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.
Jul 30: 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.
Jul 29: 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.
Jul 28: 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
Jul 27: 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.
Jul 26: 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.
Jul 24: RE-AIR - Is Jalen Rose the First Jalen? We Solve a Sports Name Mystery
You'll find several "Jalens" in the NFL draft this week, the NBA draft this
summer, and any number of games you turn on...from Jalen Suggs to Jalen Green to
Jalen Mayfield. For years our colleague, friend and basketball veteran Jalen
Rose has maintained that today's Jalens are named for him (whether they know it
or not). We honor Jalen Rose's mother, the recently passed Jeanne Rose,
exploring the history and mystery of his name in sports and beyond. With data,
experts, and extensive interviews, the Jalen paradox is solved.
Jul 23: Why USA Men's Basketball Faces an 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.
Jul 22: 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.
Jul 21: 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.
Jul 20: 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.
Jul 19: 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 an also-ran 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.
Jul 16: 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.
Jul 15: 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.
Jul 14: 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 post
back-to-back 40-point games. Lowe breaks down how this matchup of two big men
may just hold the key to the rest of the series.
Jul 13: 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.
Jul 12: 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.
Jul 9: How Sports Owners Use Their Teams to Avoid Millions in Taxes
Sports 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
utilized to lessen an owners' tax liability. Investigative reporter Robert
Faturechi of ProPublica walks us through how the tax code allows owners to
frequently end up paying lower tax rates than not only the players for whom they
write their checks, but sometimes 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
Jul 8: 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.
Jul 7: 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. He
also explains what the Bucks need to do to slow down the Suns, and why the
series isn't over just yet. Then, we check in with Sam Borden in London, who
brings us a soccer (and culinary) update from the 2020 Euros semifinals.
Jul 6: 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.
Jul 5: 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.
Jul 2: 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.
Jul 1: 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.
Jun 30: 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.
Jun 29: 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.
Jun 28: 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.
Jun 26: Bonus Episode - Olympic Training During a Pandemic
It's a dream year in the making. High jumper Priscilla Frederick-Loomis will do
anything to support her training for the 2020 Olympics, even clean strangers'
houses. But as the postponed Tokyo Games approach, she's still suffering
mysterious health problems months after contracting COVID-19. In collaboration
with ESPN, we follow Frederick-Loomis' progress and ask: What will it take to
safely pull off the Olympics? For more information on this episode, visit
nationalgeographic.com/overheard Want more? Follow Priscilla Frederick Loomis
and her journey to the 2021 Olympics on Instagram @priscilla_frederick. And hear
more from Pablo Torre at ESPN Daily, ESPN's flagship podcast. Leroy Sims
recently appeared to talk about leading the vaccine rollout for the NBA. For
more of ESPN's reporting on the Olympics, meet the USA Rugby player who works as
a pediatric nurse. And learn how Japanese athletes are getting the vaccine
before the general public. The Olympics has had a turbulent history. Read our
story about it and explore if a curse could explain why the Olympics gets
disrupted so often. If you like what you hear and want to support more content
like this, please consider a National Geographic subscription. Go to
natgeo.com/explore to subscribe today.
Jun 25: Americans in Blazers: Roger Bennett on Stars, Stripes, and Soccer
Ahead of his book, "(RE)BORN IN THE USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to His
Chosen Home" Roger Bennett, of Men in Blazers fame, shares how his love for
American 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 the magic
of sports and its 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.
Jun 24: 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."
Jun 23: 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.
Jun 22: 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.
Jun 21: 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.
Jun 19: 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.
Jun 18: 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 the
world's most popular motorsport has never had much of a following in the U.S.
But thanks in part to the hit Netflix series "F1: Drive to Survive," Formula 1
has now begun to make converts out of Americans, who have been sucked in by the
high speed danger, as well as the soap opera drama behind the scenes. Ryan McGee
takes the wheel and gives us a crash course on everything we need to know about
Formula 1. Then, Marc Spears explains what Juneteenth means to him.
Jun 17: How Pro Surfer Tyler Wright Made Her Own Waves
Summary: 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.
Jun 16: 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.
Jun 15: 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.
Jun 14: 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.
Jun 11: 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.
Jun 10: 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.
Jun 9: 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.
Jun 8: 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.
Jun 7: 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.
Jun 4: Mayweather vs. Paul: What Influencers Mean for Boxing
The global internet celebrity Logal Paul faces off against boxing legend Floyd
Mayweather this Sunday. Both men are controversial figures, who've faced
criminal allegations. The veteran prizefighter taking on a viral video star is
just the latest unconventional attempt to draw eyes to the boxing ring, as
interest in combat sports continues to shift. ESPN's Ben Baby examines why
Mayweather came out of retirement to fight Paul, why internet stars like Paul
may be poised to succeed on pay-per-view, and if this is the future of the
"sweet science."
Jun 3: How the Mascot Hall of Fame Came to Furry Fruition
Mascots come in all shapes and sizes. From animals like the Oriole Bird or Roary
the Lion to creatures like Gritty, mascots are a zany yet indelible part of
sports. And while we honor the best players, teams, and coaches at various hall
of fame institutions, there hasn't been a place to honor mascots ... until now.
The three-story, 18 million-dollar Mascot Hall of Fame is open in Whiting,
Indiana. Jake Malooley takes us behind the scenes to its hallowed, fur-lined
halls. And he shares the story of the man who made it all happen: Dave Raymond,
who worked as the original Phillie Phanatic. Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on
LeBron James and the Lakers' recent struggles.
Jun 2: Jeff Passan on the Story Behind MLB's Inaugural Lou Gehrig Day
Lou Gehrig was one of the greatest players in the history of baseball. But
Gehrig's career, and ultimately his life, was cut short by the disease with
which he has become synonymous, ALS. In March, MLB announced plans for their
first annual Lou Gehrig Day, which will be celebrated each year on June 2nd.
Jeff Passan joins the show to examine Gehrig's legacy, and to share the story of
the man who actually made MLB's Lou Gehrig Day happen: Brian Wayne Gallantine.
Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on Naomi Osaka's comments about the post-match
press conferences at the French Open and mental health in sports.
Jun 1: The Surprising Science Behind Epic Athletes (Re-Air)
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, in a re-air of one of our favorite episodes.
May 31: Rocky Bleier - From The Steelers To Vietnam And Back (Re-Air)
For generations, countless men and women from around the sports world have
served in our nation's military. But none have a story quite like Rocky Bleier.
Bleier won a college football national championship with Notre Dame, but during
his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was drafted into the U.S.
Army. Three months into his deployment to Vietnam, Bleier was shot through the
thigh and suffered a grenade blast to his foot. Doctors told him he'd never play
football again. But Bleier would go on to rejoin the Steelers and win four Super
Bowls with the team in the 1970s. In 2018, Bleier and ESPN's Tom Rinaldi
traveled to Vietnam, to the Hiep Duc Valley, where Bleier served, and where many
of his fellow soldiers were killed in an ambush. We re-air this story for
Memorial Day.
May 28: Boban Marjanovic is Your Favorite NBA Player's Favorite Player
Dallas Mavericks center Boban Marjanovic stands at 7'4" and the Serbia native is
most likely your favorite NBA player's favorite player. Known for his quirky
personality and authenticity, Boban calls himself a "big friendly giant," and
his presence in the Mavs' locker room brings something immeasurable. Sam Borden
shares how Boban's influenced the team, including star Luka Doncic, as the team
goes for a 3-0 lead in their series against the Clippers. Then, Tottenham
superfan Sun Min Kimes makes a triumphant return to preview this weekend's
Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea.
May 27: Will the Tokyo Olympics Actually Happen?
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been in limbo since the COVID pandemic gripped the
world. The games have already been postponed a full year, and are now less than
two months away. But even as the opening ceremonies on July 23rd draw closer and
closer, it's still unclear whether or not the Tokyo Olympics will actually take
place. With coronavirus cases surging in Japan, and distribution of the vaccine
proceeding slowly, Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency. And perhaps
most importantly, public opinion in Japan is now firmly on the side of canceling
the games outright. But the International Olympic Committee has been adamant
about moving forward with the games. ESPN senior writer Tom Hamilton, who's
based in London, and the Times of London's Asia editor Richard Lloyd Parry,
who's based in Tokyo, explain the financial implications, public health risks,
and other factors at play as the Tokyo Olympics hang in the balance.
May 26: The Bromance Behind the Knicks Rebirth + Aaron Rodgers Latest
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has one oft-repeated mantra: "The magic
is in the work." It's a mantra that has struck a chord with Julius Randle, whose
work has paid off this year. Randle has led the Knicks to the playoffs, made an
All-Star appearance, and was just named the NBA's Most Improved Player. Nick
Friedell has covered Thibodeau for ten years, and joins the show to explain
Thibodeau's coaching style, and what it means for a player like Randle to be a
"Thibs guy." Then, Packers reporter Rob Demovsky helps us parse through Aaron
Rodgers' recent comments, and his future with the team.
May 25: The WNBA's Minnesota Lynx Found Their Voice
One year ago on May 25, 2020, George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police
officer, Derek Chauvin. The event spurred protest, activism and action around
the world. In sports, perhaps no entity was as prepared to deal with the
resulting racial reckoning as the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. Katie Barnes joins the
show to share stories from the women of the Lynx. From personal experiences that
inform their views on criminal justice, to how the team first took a stand
against disproportionate police violence many years ago, the Lynx have been
central to sports' evolving relationship with athlete activism.
May 24: 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
month. 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.
May 21: The NBA Play-In and Most Enticing Playoff Matchups
When LeBron James sunk a game winning 3-point shot in the final minute of
Wednesday's play-in game vs. Golden State, it felt like the NBA playoffs had
already begun. And now, the seventh seeded Lakers are actually favored in their
first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. As the playoffs loom, Kevin
Arnovitz tells us how LeBron and Anthony Davis (who are still recovering from
injuries) and the Lakers might handle Chris Paul and the Suns. Plus he makes the
case for why we should hop on the Utah Jazz bandwagon. And why Bucks vs. Heat
might be the most enticing matchup in the entire first round.
May 20: Lionel Messi - Genius. Legend. Leaving?
Lionel Messi shocked the soccer world last year when he announced he wanted to
leave Barcelona, the team he's played for since he was a teenager. Messi's
contract expires at the end of June, and clubs like Manchester City and Paris
Saint-Germain are poised to make massive offers to the man many consider the
greatest player of all time. Sid Lowe has covered Messi for his entire career
with Barcelona from inside Spain, and joins the show to take us through how
Messi came to this crossroads, the stages of Messi's career from Argentina to
Barcelona, and what his next move might be.
May 19: Why John Daly's Miracle 1991 PGA Championship Lives on Through One
Family
When an unknown 25 year old named John Daly showed up at the 1991 PGA
Championship literally the night before -- as the ninth alternate -- he pulled
off the biggest upset in golf history and became an instant icon, 30 years ago
this August. Daly's style (namely his mullet), and his behavior (namely chain
smoking and drinking too much) set him apart from the buttoned up country club
crowd. But his massive drives and bad boy persona made him a fan favorite, and
his win at the 1991 PGA Championship in Carmel, Indiana made him a legend in
golf history. What's less well known, but no less significant, is the story of
another man who attended that tournament. During the first round, Tom Weaver, a
spectator and father of two, was struck in the chest by lightning, and died at
the scene. ESPN's Bob Harig shares the story of Tom Weaver, and the gift Daly
sent his family afterwards, that lives on to this day.
May 18: Stephen A. Smith Dishes Knicks + Play-In Tournament
No one is happier to see the New York Knicks in the NBA Playoffs than our own
Stephen A. Smith. But the ESPN host and commentator infamously pulls no punches
as a critic of the team, or the league in general. And he has his share of takes
on the painful path it took for the Knicks to get here. Hear what he thinks
happens next. Plus, Stephen A's best bets to make it past the NBA Play-In
Tournament, tipping off today.
May 17: Michael Wilbon on Basketball Hall of Fame Weekend
The late Kobe Bryant was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, where
his wife Vanessa delivered a moving speech remembering her husband during
Saturday's emotional night. Also inducted were fellow NBA icons Tim Duncan and
Kevin Garnett...as well as our own Michael Wilbon, who was given the Curt Gowdy
Media Award. Wilbon joins the show to share some behind-the-scenes moments from
a historic basketball weekend. Then, ESPN's Dan Hajducky reflects on a
connection he shares with Hall of Fame inductee and WNBA legend Tamika
Catchings.
May 14: Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby Drama, Explained
Medina Spirit will race in this weekend's Preakness, fresh off a win at the
Kentucky Derby. The victory is clouded in controversy, because a drug test right
after came up positive for a substance banned on race day. Longtime trainer and
racing honcho Bob Baffert has denied wrongdoing, but this is just the latest in
a string of concerning incidents around his massive horse training operation.
Matt Hegarty of Daily Racing Form walks us through the timeline of events,
leading up to this weekend's Preakness, and the implications for superstar
Baffert. Then Wright Thompson, reporter for ESPN's "Bloodlines" podcast, shares
more on his time with Baffert, and the state of racing.
May 13: Is This Finally Joel Embiid's Moment?
Joel Embiid's 2021 season has been marked by seismic ups and downs. With the
Sixers leading the Eastern Conference, Embiid was the front runner for NBA MVP
through mid-March...until he went down with a knee injury that sidelined him for
10 games. The injury was just the latest roadblock in a career that's seemingly
always just on the cusp of fulfilling its potential. And off the court, Embiid
has faced personal tragedy, with the death of his brother Arthur, as well as
joy, with the birth of his first child, whom he's named after his late brother.
As Embiid and the 76ers look toward the postseason, Ramona Shelburne sits down
with Joel Embiid as he reveals his emotional journey and shares what drives him.
May 12: WNBA At 25 - From "We've Got Next" to the Orange Hoodie...and Beyond
The WNBA celebrates its 25th anniversary this season, a historic milestone for a
league that many thought would never last. From the league's beginnings and the
rise of stars like Lisa Leslie and Cheryl Swoops to the modern game and the
myriad of social justice initiatives undertaken by the players, the game has
changed massively in the past quarter-century, both on and off the court.
Rebecca Lobo was there from the beginning, and joins the show to reflect on her
experiences, the growing pains associated with the league's early days, and what
comes next for the players on the floor. Then, Pablo examines the validity of
Russian president Vladimir Putin's eight goal performance from a recent
exhibition game.
May 11: How Can LeBron and the Lakers Rebound?
The reigning champion Lakers currently sit way down at seventh in the Western
Conference, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis having been out for long
stretches due to injury. With both stars returning, the Lake Show is pushing for
a postseason berth. Brian Windhorst explains LeBron and company's chances. And
he breaks down what the play-in games mean, love them or hate them.
May 10: The View from Center Ice: NHL Drama + Playoff Primer
The New York Rangers face drama on and off the ice, around the league's response
to Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson's latest incident and history of
injuring opponents. This weekend, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid reached
the milestone of 100 points in 53 games, as he's looking more and more like the
favorite for league MVP. And that's just the latest in a season of big NHL
headlines, as the league skates toward the playoffs. ESPN hockey insiders Emily
Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski co-host our NHL breakdown.
May 8: Alive - The Drew Robinson Story (Re-air)
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 worked his way back into professional baseball, as he has successfully
made the roster for the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate for the 2021
season.. ESPN's Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan shares his reporting behind the
ESPN+ special from E:60, "Alive: The Drew Robinson Story." NOTE: This episode
originally aired on February 2nd, 2021
May 7: Aaron Rodgers Drama - The View From Green Bay
The NFL world was stunned last week by the report of Aaron Rodgers wanting out
of Green Bay, and in the time since, little has emerged to suggest the situation
will be easily resolved. Rodgers has been teasing a departure for months for a
myriad of reasons, from the unexpected arrival of QB Jordan Love last season to
unhappiness with Packers leadership to the allure of a permanent new gig hosting
"Jeopardy!" Longtime Packers beat reporter Rob Demovsky joins the show to unpack
the situation, explore whether Packers fans are turning on Rodgers, and sort out
what might happen next. Then, in honor of Mother's Day, Pablo shares how Arizona
women's basketball coach Adia Barnes has become an inspiration to working moms
everywhere.
May 6: The Most Important Shots In The NBA - Vaccines
As we approach the NBA playoffs, stakes are high for missing games, and
coronavirus vaccines are tantamount. The person leading vaccine rollout, and all
player health and safety amid this pandemic, is Dr. Leroy Sims. As Senior Vice
President of Medical Affairs for the NBA, Sims has overseen every detail of
fighting COVID-19. He shares insights from an unprecedented year, and what he
sees ahead. Then Jeff Passan has news about baseball player Drew Robinson. He
attempted suicide. And lived. And now he's returning to the game.
May 5: The Russell Westbrook Paradox
There is no one in the NBA like Russell Westbrook. The former league MVP
routinely puts up eye-popping stat lines and is now just four triple-doubles
away from breaking Oscar Robertson's all-time triple-double record. But what's
even more impressive about Westbrook is how he's elevating the Washington
Wizards, and shockingly making them look like a contender this May. But
Westbrook is not without his critics, particularly among the analytics obsessed
NBA-types who worship at the altar of "efficiency." Today, Kirk Goldsberry joins
the show to break down the paradox that is Russell Westbrook: Is he a uniquely
talented player who puts up historic numbers? Or one whose weaknesses are
seemingly at odds with success in the modern NBA? Can he be both? Then, Pablo
shares an update on the Indian Premier League's suspension amidst growing COVID
cases in India.
May 4: Protesters on the Pitch - Why the Failed Super League is Haunting Soccer
As Europe's Champions League Semifinals start today, the soccer world is still
reeling from protesting fans in England. Hundreds stormed Old Trafford Stadium
in Manchester on Sunday, injured police officers and led Liverpool and Man
United to reschedule their game. It all stems back to a failed plan for Europe's
biggest soccer teams to form a breakaway league, that revealed team owners' and
populist fans' diverging ideas about the future of soccer in Europe. As
long-standing tensions flare up, global sports correspondent Sam Borden breaks
down the culture and economics in play.
May 3: Shohei Ohtani's Baseball Experiment is Working
Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani is breaking MLB records that have been held for a
century. He just became the first player since Babe Ruth to start a game as a
pitcher...while also leading the league in home runs as a hitter. As Ohtani
takes the mound again in Anaheim tonight, Alden Gonzalez explains what Ohtani's
success as a two-way player means for the game, and if we'll see more like him
going forward. Then, today's soccer fan protests and how they're connected to
deeper discontent in Europe's teams.
Apr 30: Bill Barnwell Sizes Up Round One of NFL Draft
The 2021 NFL Draft first round is in the books, and prospects are on their way
to their new teams. From the 49ers' secretive plan to take QB Trey Lance as the
number three pick, to the Bears trading up for QB Justin Fields, quarterbacks
remained the story at the center. And then there are the other wins down the
roster, like the Falcons' new tight end Kyle Pitts. But we also have to talk
about Aaron Rodgers' surprise pre-draft gripes about Green Bay, don't we? Bill
Barnwell sizes up the surprises and key storylines of draft night.
Apr 29: What Richard Sherman Can Teach Us About the NFL Draft
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Richard Sherman with the 154th pick in the 2011 NFL
Draft, behind 24 other cornerbacks. 10 years later, Sherman is still punishing
the league for letting him fall that far, and created a legacy that will one day
send him to Canton. But what did everyone miss when they were evaluating Sherman
in 2011? And why didn't they see his potential? On the day of the 2021 NFL
Draft, Domonique Foxworth explains what Richard Sherman, the prospect, can teach
us about what we'll see during these next three days of drafting...and
everything we won't.
Apr 28: Is Jalen Rose the First Jalen? We Solve a Sports Name Mystery
You'll find several "Jalens" in the NFL draft this week, the NBA draft this
summer, and any number of games you turn on...from Jalen Suggs to Jalen Green to
Jalen Mayfield. For years our colleague, friend and basketball veteran Jalen
Rose has maintained that today's Jalens are named for him (whether they know it
or not). We honor Jalen Rose's mother, the recently passed Jeanne Rose,
exploring the history and mystery of his name in sports and beyond. With data,
experts, and extensive interviews, the Jalen paradox is solved.
Apr 27: Who Inspires QB Trevor Lawrence? Artist and Big Brother, Chase
Trevor Lawrence's greatest inspiration? Artist brother Chase Summary: The sports
world is ripe with famous siblings--the Watt brothers, the Williams sisters, the
Currys, the Gasols, and on and on. But a superstar's non-athlete sibling doesn't
usually make news. Enter Chase Lawrence, the offbeat older brother of the top
player in this week's NFL Draft, Trevor Lawrence. Brother Chase is an artist
worth knowing and the single biggest influence on Trevor Lawrence himself.
ESPN's Dave Fleming joins the show to explain how the bond between these two is
a hidden factor in Trevor's rise, and the new collaboration that's bringing
their worlds together.
Apr 26: NFL Draft Preview with Mina Kimes
For the 2021 NFL Draft this week, we won't have family cams or yacht cameos.
Live and in-person from Cleveland, teams will match with top talent, including a
handful of historically great young quarterbacks. And we'll see what franchises
that traded up for higher draft picks have in mind. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes
previews all the drama. Then, goodbye to a goat who's truly a GOAT.
Apr 23: Jokic, Curry, or Embiid - Zach Lowe Breaks Down Their Rival Claims for
NBA MVP
It's been a strange and turbulent NBA season, and the race for MVP is no
different. While Nikola Jokic is leading the pack at the moment, familiar names
like Steph Curry, Joel Embiid and even James Harden are all still very much in
the race. Today, Zach Lowe breaks down the MVP favorites, and also explains how
the New York Knicks, yes, the New York Knicks, became the hottest playoff team
in the NBA.
Apr 22: UFC 261 - The Reign of Kamaru Usman
After squaring off on Fight Island last year, Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal
prepare to fight once again this Saturday at UFC 261 with the welterweight title
on the line. Usman retained his belt by unanimous decision the first time around
-- but simply beating Masvidal was not enough for Usman: this time, he wants to
break Masvidal's soul. ESPN's Dotun Akintoye joins the show to share the story
of Usman, the man known as the Nigerian Nightmare, and tells us what fuels one
of the greatest MMA fighters on the planet.
Apr 21: Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' First Season at Jackson State
Deion Sanders was one of the NFL's most flamboyant characters, where he earned
nicknames like "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion." Now, he's just finished his first
season as head coach at Jackson State (yes, spring football due to COVID-19).
Our guest, sports writer Jean-Jacques Taylor, covered Sanders' career for the
NFL and reported on his coaching season for The Undefeated. Then, Myron Medcalf
joins us from Minneapolis on the sports world's reaction to a guilty verdict for
the man who killed George Floyd.
Apr 20: Why Everyone Seems to Hate Soccer's New "Super League"
Over the weekend, news broke that 12 of the biggest soccer teams from across
Europe are attempting to break away and create their own "Super League." The
backlash was immediate and widespread, from politicians and royalty to fans
across the world. Sam Borden joins the show to explain if the creation of the
new league is even possible, and why it's got the soccer world in an uproar.
Then, Pablo shares the story of Gary Payton, a former NBA guard who doesn't
partake in cannabis at all, yet is the face of one of the most popular legal
strains of marijuana.
Apr 19: How Modern Pitchers Are Breaking Baseball
MLB's 2021 season is delivering wild numbers: eye-popping speed on the average
fastball, and crazy-low batting averages. Look no further than the dominance of
New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom. ESPN Baseball Insider Jeff Passan tells us why
fastballs are faster and sliders more nasty. Hear how it's all changing today's
game in ways that could harm its appeal, if MLB doesn't take action. Then, an
all-time hockey record is breaking tonight, and the two players involved and
their careers couldn't be more different.
Apr 16: Being Mel Kiper Jr.
The NFL Draft is American institution. And for the past 40 years, the
unmistakable voice of that institution has been Mel Kiper Jr. His "Big Board"
and mock drafts have become a rite of spring, a yearly ritual that signals your
team will soon be "on the clock." It is a remarkable climb for someone who used
a typewriter to compile draft reports as a teenager, before the NFL Draft was
even televised. Mel joins the show to explain how he helped turn his personal
obsession into a national obsession...and made us all draft nerds in the
process.
Apr 15: The Dual Narratives Around Deshaun Watson's Massages
Allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against Deshaun Watson have until
this week played out through lawyers' statements and accuser anonymity. Now,
more women are attaching their names to court filings and speaking in public.
While some of Watson's corporate sponsors are suspending deals with him, some
women are speaking in support of Watson, saying their experiences with him were
not inappropriate. Investigative reporter John Barr walks us through the
conflicting narratives at play in these developments. Then, ahead of the WNBA
draft Thursday night, Kevin Pelton weighs in on the league's eligibility rules.
Apr 14: The Next Great Quarterback Prospect (Is Someone You've Never Heard Of)
Quarterback Trey Lance is projected to be a top-10 pick in this year's NFL
draft. But the 20-year-old from North Dakota State has largely flown under the
radar, overshadowed by big names like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. Lance
and his family have bucked trends from the start, and his path to the NFL has
seemed fast, and yet also circuitous. Tim Keown shares Lance's story, and why
he's captured the attention of NFL scouts everywhere.
Apr 13: Daryl Morey On the Sports Analytics Revolution
Daryl Morey, Philadelphia 76ers general manager, co-founded an event 15 years
ago that's become the hub of all things data-driven in sports. At the MIT Sloan
Sports Analytics Conference, researchers, athletes, coaches and commentators
swap takes on the digital trends changing how games are played, and how business
is done. Morey joins Pablo to definitely not apologize for anything, to discuss
the rise of sports analytics, and how data can make teams and the NBA game
itself even better. Then, Myron Medcalf gives us a view from Minnesota, where
Twin Cities teams postponed games in the wake of the police shooting of Daunte
Wright.
Apr 12: How Breaking Baseball's Unwritten Rules Is Changing The Game (For Good)
Baseball is steeped in time-honored traditions and a code of unwritten rules.
But players in today's game are starting to break those rules: flipping their
bats, admiring their home runs, and, say, hitting a Grand Slam when up 10-3 in
the 8th inning. Ok, that last one was just Fernando Tatis Jr. ESPN's Joon Lee
explains how baseball's youngest generation is challenging the establishment and
injecting their personalities into the game - and why that's changing the sport
for the better. Then, Pablo shares the story of a prison basketball game where
an unlikely play-by-play star was born.
Apr 9: Full Circle - The Freddie Freeman Story
You might know about Freddie Freeman, the baseball player...the gold glover and
four time All-Star...who battled back from covid to win NL MVP last year. But
the Freddie Freeman you don't know is even more remarkable. Buster Olney joins
the show to take us inside Full Circle: The Freddie Freeman Story: airing this
Sunday on E:60, and presents an exclusive and emotional portrait of one of the
game's best players. Freeman opens up as never before about the loss of loved
ones, as well as the struggles he and his wife have endured in starting of a
family of their own.
Apr 8: Sports and Georgia: MLB, the Masters, and Beyond
MLB moved the All-Star Game out of Georgia, after the state passed a law
hampering voting access. As MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred takes heat from many
directions, baseball's move has cast a different kind of spotlight on the
Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. It's teeing off as
scheduled, and that's not surprising to ESPN senior writer and baseball
historian Howard Bryant. He breaks down the business side of MLB's decision, how
it's reverberating, and the many stakeholders in play. Then, Pablo shares a
personal connection with the pimento cheese sandwich, a time-honored staple at
the Masters.
Apr 7: Field Yates On The NFL Draft QB Chaos
When the Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers on Monday, they essentially
announced to the world that they will be selecting a quarterback with the 2nd
pick in the upcoming NFL draft. And at the top of this year's draft...they're
not alone. The 2021 QB Draft class is one of the deepest in memory, and the top
5 QB prospects could all potentially be picked in the top 10. Some, like
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, are considered as sure a bet as any prospect since
Andrew Luck. Others, like North Dakota State's Trey Lance may not have the big
program pedigree...but are still projected to be among the first players taken.
Field Yates joins the show to assess the top 5 QB prospects...and makes his
prediction for where they might end up. Then, ahead of the Masters Tournament,
Sam Borden shares the story of Tim Tucker, golf genius
Apr 6: Baylor Bears Are NCAA Champs - How Gonzaga Lost Its Perfect Season
The Baylor Bears are your NCAA champions, for the first time in the program's
history. After decimating Houston in the Final Four, Baylor put on an offensive
showcase powered by impressive scoring runs, and ended Gonzaga's quest for a
perfect season. Jalen Suggs and the Zags' offense were unable to get anything
going against the stalwart Baylor defense. Myron Medcalf joins us from
Indianapolis to break down the title game and reflect on the 2021 tournament.
Then, Pablo remarks on Aaron Rodgers' self-aware debut as Jeopardy guest host.
Apr 5: NCAA - Gonzaga Buzzer Beater, Baylor Blowout, and Stanford Women's Champs
Gonzaga and Baylor tip off tonight in the NCAA Championship after a thrilling
pair of Final Four games. Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs hit a wild game-winning
buzzer-beater in overtime on Saturday vs. UCLA that sent Sports Twitter into
overdrive, as Gonzaga furthered its quest for a perfect season. Also on
Saturday, Baylor blew out Houston with Jared Butler landing 17 points, and five
players recording double figures. Jeff Borzello recounts Suggs' 3 heard 'round
the world. And LaChina Robinson breaks down how Stanford bested Arizona in
another neck-and-neck game to become the women's champions.
Apr 2: Final Four Weekend - Gonzaga's Perfect Run + Paige Bueckers' Magic
This weekend, the men's and women's NCAA Final Four games tip off in
Indianapolis and San Antonio, respectively. On the men's side, Gonzaga will look
to fend off surprising UCLA, who just upset #1 Michigan, while Baylor and
Houston face off in a rare Lone Star State showdown. Myron Medcalf is on the
ground in Indianapolis and shares his insights on each Final Four matchup. For
the women, powerhouse UConn, lead by star freshman Paige Bueckers, will do
battle with Arizona, who's making its first Final Four appearance. And Dawn
Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks look to continue their defensive stand against
tournament favorite Stanford. LaChina Robinson is on site in San Antonio to
preview the pair of games, and reflects on the women's tournament thus far.
Then, Katie Barnes updates us on the BFFs of the tournament: Gonzaga's Jalen
Suggs and UConn's Paige Bueckers, as they each prepare for the semifinals.
Apr 1: MLB Opening Day - Tim Kurkjian on Fans' Return, Houston's Reckoning, and
Playoffs for the...Mets?
Baseball's Opening Day is finally here! After a shortened 2020 season, MLB is
back with a 162 game schedule and plenty of exciting storylines. With fans back
in the stands, will the Houston Astros finally receive the reckoning many
thought they'd get following their cheating scandal? Will Francisco Lindor live
up to the hype and take the Mets to the postseason? Can the upstart Padres match
up with the defending champion Dodgers? Tim Kurkjian runs through everything you
need to know heading into this baseball season, and even gives Baltimore Orioles
fans something to hope for. Then, new Cubs TV play-by-play announcer Boog
Sciambi talks with Pablo about taking up the iconic broadcasting mantle at
Wrigley Field.
Mar 31: Funny Money, a Secret Recording, and the Unraveling of a Powerhouse
Football Program
When the winningest team in high school football hired the most controversial
coach in high school football, heads turned all over the state of Georgia. What
ensued was a 15-month saga of small-town, big time football that ended up
dividing an entire town. Mark Schlabach brings us a story of funny money, a
secret recording, and the unraveling of a powerhouse high school football
program in Valdosta, Georgia.
March 30: The New York Mets - Best Worst Team In Sports
The New York Mets and their fans have been sports punchline fodder for decades.
But Mets fans are a resilient (if occasionally delusional?) bunch, enduring
heartbreak after heartbreak in the long history of the organization. Author
Devin Gordon refers to the team as the "Best Worst Team in Sports" in his new
book, "So Many Ways To Lose," and he joins the show to discuss his research into
the highs and lows of the Mets, their passionate fans, and unique legacy.
Mar 29: 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.
Mar 26: 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.
Mar 25: 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.
Mar 24: 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.
Mar 23: 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.
Mar 22: 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.
Mar 19: 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.
Mar 18: 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.
Mar 17: 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.
Mar 16: 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.
Mar 15: 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.
Mar 12: 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.
Mar 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.
Mar 10: 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.
Mar 9: 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.
Mar 8: 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.
Mar 5: 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.
Mar 4: 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.
Mar 3: 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.
Mar 2: 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.
Mar 1: 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.
Feb 26: 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."
Feb 25: 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.
Feb 24: 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+.
Feb 23: 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.
Feb 22: 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.
Feb 19: 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.
Feb 18: 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.
Feb 17: Paige Bueckers Dominates at UCONN + WNBA Free Agency Moves
Paige Bueckers + WNBA Free Agency Summary: UCONN 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 13 years. The Liberty signed
Natasha Howard. And there are more major moves to discus. And Howard University
men's basketball coach Kenny Blakeney explains why his team cancelled the rest
of their season.
Feb 16: The Life of Legendary Georgetown Coach John Thompson Jr.
Jesse Washington Remembers Coach John Thompson Jr. Summary: 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.
Feb 15: Former NFL Players Say Process for Concussion Claims Discriminates
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.
Feb 12: 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.de 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.
Feb 11: 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.
Feb 10: 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.
Feb 9: 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.
Feb 8: 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.
Feb 6: 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.
Feb 5: 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.
Feb 4: 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."
Feb 3: 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 Kezerian takes us inside the
incredibly popular, sometimes bizarre world of Super Bowl prop bets.
Feb 2: 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."
Feb 1: 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.
Jan 29: 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.
Jan 28: 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.
Jan 27: 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.
Jan 26: 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 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.
Jan 25: 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.
Jan 22: NFL Conference Championship Preview
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.
Jan 21: 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 Phillip Rivers.
Jan 20: 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 story on New York Mets general manager Jared
Porter's harassment of a female reporter, and what the fallout says about
baseball culture.
Jan 19: Which Conor McGregor Will Show Up at UFC 257?
Saturday's UFC 257 main event is Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier in a
much-hyped fight. It's McGregor's first bout since the pandemic lockdown last
March, and ESPN's Ariel Helwani shares insight from his sit-down with the
fighter nicknamed "Notorious." The roller coaster of McGregor's moods, scandals,
wins and losses all factor into what we could see this weekend. Then, why the
Flat Earth F.C. says a lot about the shape of misinformation.
Jan 18: NFL Divisional Playoffs - Air Aaron, Henne-thing Is Possible, and Brees
Says Goodbye?
The NFL divisional playoffs went down to the wire, and the conference
championship games are set! Tom Brady and the Bucs made the Saints pay for some
costly turnovers, as Tampa finished off New Orleans. Led by backup QB Chad
Henne, the Kansas City Chiefs held on to beat the Cleveland Browns after Patrick
Mahomes went down with a concussion. Aaron Rodgers played like he was immortal,
with the Packers proving the mortality of the Rams defense. The football cosmos
favored the Buffalo Bills against the Baltimore Ravens. So what's all this mean
for who keeps winning? Bill Barnwell brings his best takes. Then retired MLB
player Doug Glanville shares what being a Black father means for his next move
in baseball.
Jan 15: Lake Erie's Revenge - The Cleveland Browns' Date With AFC Destiny
When the Cleveland Browns took down their rivals the Steelers last weekend,
decades of football angst was released. The Browns got their first playoff win
since the 1990s, and now they'll face reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas
City Chiefs. Led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Browns are desperate to
prove that this team and this season is different. ESPN Browns reporter Jake
Trotter brings us inside their historic season, and traces Baker's rise. Then,
head to Buffalo with ESPN Bills reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques and a fan very
close to ESPN Daily, for a look at Bills mania ahead of their second home
playoff game.
Jan 14: Harden to the Nets - Behind the Massive NBA Trade
James Harden will reunite with Kevin Durant and become a member of the Brooklyn
Nets. In a blockbuster three-way deal, the landscape of the entire NBA has
shifted. Harden will also join new teammates Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan,
bringing new hope to the Nets organization. Ramona Shelburne brings us her
reporting on how the deal went down, plus what this means for Brooklyn and the
entire NBA.
Jan 13: NHL Drops the Puck! Hockey's Old Rivals and New Divisions
The NHL is back tonight! This shortened season boasts new (corporate sponsored)
divisions, including an all Canadian division, plus old and unique rivalries
rekindled. After completing its 2020 season in two Canadian city bubbles, it
feels like anything can happen in hockey for 2021. Can the Leafs finally advance
to the playoffs? Will #1 overall pick Alexis Lafrenière spur on the Rangers?
Greg Wyshynski brings us up to speed on everything we need to know to follow NHL
action. Then, in honor of Nick Saban's most recent championship win, Pablo
shares a rare moment when the iconic coach opened up for the cameras. Alert
Text: Hockey is back tonight! Greg Wyshynski has everything you need to know to
follow the NHL's 2021 action. Custom Category: NHL, hockey Keywords: NHL,
hockey, Alexis Lafrenière, Toronto Maple Leafs, Gary Bettman
Jan 12: Crimson Tide are 2021 Champions in Extraordinary College Football Season
The Alabama Crimson Tide are your 2021 College Football Champions! Spencer Hall
hashes the 52-24 win over Ohio State, and reflects on the teams' paths to the
end. In a season unlike any other, Monday night's championship game marked a
finish line that at times seemed out of sight. Then, Pablo reflects on sports
and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Alabama is the 2021 College Football
Champion! Spencer Hall details the win over Ohio State, and what both teams
faced in their path to the finish.
Jan 11: NFL Wild Card Playoffs - Who Won, Who Got Slimed, And Why
The NFL's Super Wild Card Weekend was filled with heartbreak for some - like
Indianapolis and Washington. Others saw particular triumph, like Ravens' QB
Lamar Jackson, who earned his first playoff victory, and the Cleveland Browns,
who won in their first postseason appearance since 2002. Bill Barnwell shares
insights on what we saw from the first slate of postseason games, as we look
forward to the divisional round. Then, Andrea Adelson previews tonight's College
Football Championship, Ohio State vs. Alabama, on the scene from Miami.
Jan 8: Francisco Lindor - New Hope For Mets Fans?
With the 2021 baseball season still months away, the Cleveland Indians dealt two
of their stars, Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco, to the New York Mets in a
blockbuster deal. Could this be the hope Mets fans are looking for? Buster Olney
joins the show to explain how the trade went down. Then Atlanta Dream forward
Elizabeth Williams reflects on the Georgia race for US Senate, and Raphael
Warnock's defeat of Dream co-owner Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
Jan 7: Replay - The National Anthem in Sports
In the wake of insurrection at the US Capitol, we are respinning our September
episode focused on sports and the national anthem. We hear it before every major
game: "The Star Spangled Banner." Throughout sports history, the national anthem
has unified the U.S. in historic moments. It's also served as a platform to call
for change. And right now, athletes are staking their claim on the anthem more
than ever, to make history themselves and protest peacefully. We explore the
topic with guests Dr. Damion Thomas, sports curator of the National Museum of
African American History and Culture; Jon Batiste, musician and band leader for
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (who performed the national anthem for the
NBA's 2020 restart); and Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce.
Jan 6: Golden State Warriors' Path to Regain Glory
Tonight, the Golden State Warriors start a two-game home stand against the Los
Angeles Clippers, on the heels of a hot streak from star Steph Curry. After 18
months of bad luck, this Warriors team still finds itself uncertain of when
they'll be real title contenders again. But Curry and company are heating up,
and rookie James Wiseman is gaining wisdom. ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz shares just
how good this team can be. Then Pablo reflects on Jerry Jones' positive spin on
a dubious record held by the Cowboys this season.
Jan 5: The Tale of Manti Te'o
It's one of the most bizarre sports stories ever. In 2012, Manti Te'o had led
Notre Dame to an undefeated regular season, was named Defensive Player of the
Year, and was the Heisman Trophy runner up...all while supposedly reeling from
the death of his girlfriend: Lennay Kekua. A girlfriend who, it turned out...had
never existed. Don Van Natta examines the story of Te'o's catfishing for a new
edition of ESPN's Backstory, "The Tale of Te'o," and joins the show to share
what he learned about how the Te'o hoax unfolded, and why so many of us got
fooled.
Jan 4: Bill Barnwell - The Stakes of NFL Week 17
That's a wrap on the NFL's regular (and yet highly irregular) season! The final
playoff berths in each conference have been claimed, with the Washington
Football Team taking the hotly contested NFC East crown. In the AFC, Cleveland
secured its first trip to the playoffs since 2002, and the Miami Dolphins missed
the window in a blowout loss to the Bills. Bill Barnwell gives us his playoff
picture, plus who had the most to gain or lose in the world of Week 17 contract
incentives. Then, Pablo pays tribute to the late Gerry Marsden, former anthem
singer for Liverpool FC.
Jan 1: Breaking Down Tonight's College Football Playoff Semifinals
2020 is over. 2021 is here....and things are already looking up because New
Year's Day brings us the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Will Ohio State
avenge last year's playoff loss to Clemson? Can Notre Dame hang with Alabama's
high powered offense? ESPN's CFP guru Heather Dinich has the answers. She joins
the show as Ryan McGee fills in for Pablo Torre.
2020
Dec 31: The Great Athlete Autograph Experiment
It's a simple question that athletes have been asked for decades: "Can I have
your autograph?" But in the era of selfies and TikToks...athlete autographs
aren't prized like they used to be. And when the pandemic hit, athletes were put
even further out of reach from fans, in bubbles and empty arenas. ESPN writer
Ryan Hockensmith was an athlete autograph hound as a kid, and decided to embark
on a project with 14-year-old Bentley Baker and his dad, Andy. Bentley wrote
letters to players and coaches across basketball, sent them to the bubble, and
eagerly awaited responses. Hear the story of who wrote back. Then, Pablo shares
what he's most looking forward to in the world of sports.
Dec 30: The High School Runner Who Fought the Legacy of Robert E. Lee
In Tyler, Texas, a high school runner named Trude Lamb decided she could no
longer race for her team wearing the name of a losing Confederate general:
Robert E. Lee. The admittedly shy young woman spoke out to change her school's
name. Her words gained national attention, along with harmful comments and
threats. In a year marked by social justice activism from athletes, hear one
teenager's story of fighting for change, and what it took to win. Then, ESPN's
Holly Rowe reflects on a historic year of action on and off the court for the
WNBA.
Dec 29: How Sports Trading Cards Went from Hobby to Asset Class
In August 2020, a rookie year baseball card for Angels superstar Mike Trout sold
for nearly four million dollars. The modern-day card broke a record previously
set by a much older rare Honus Wagner card of the early 1900s. And the
eye-popping price could be surpassed again soon. Trading cards have transformed
into investments, fueled by a mysterious rating system and eccentric power
brokers. Dan Hajducky tells us strange stories from the world of sports trading
cards. Then Mike Greenberg shares his thoughts on why the return of baseball
meant so much in 2020.
Dec 28: Stefon Diggs Is Buffalo's Miracle Man
The Buffalo Bills are headed to the playoffs having won their first AFC East
title in 25 years. The not-so-secret ingredient to Buffalo's success in 2020?
Receiver Stefon Diggs. After leaving Minnesota on a down note Diggs has found a
home In Orchard Park - and clicked especially well with Josh Allen, the Bills
young QB. Sam Borden profiled Diggs for ESPN Cover Story, and joins the show to
tell us about Diggs' success in Buffalo, love for Bills Mafia and search for a
favorite chicken wings spot. Then, Mina Kimes pays tribute to Patrick Mahomes,
and his impact on sports and beyond in 2020.
Dec 25: When Eagles Fans Booed Santa - The Notorious True Story (Re-Air)
It's one of the most infamous fan stories in sports history: when Eagles fans
booed Santa at halftime of a game played at Franklin Field. But who was the
Santa in question - and why was he booed and pelted with snowballs? Outside the
Lines' Jeremy Schaap joins Mina Kimes to reflect on the enduring legacy of the
Philadelphia Santa.
Dec 24: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif - From Super Bowl Champ to the COVID Frontline
In February, Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was
hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after his team 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 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
frontline of the fight against COVID-19. TSN feature producer Matt Dorman, who
has covered Duvernay-Tardif's singular journey up-close, shares the story of a
remarkable talent and his incredible sacrifice.
Dec 23: Why Athletes Want Trademarks for Everything
Tompa Bay. Danny Dimes. The Process. You've heard these names and phrases. But
do you know think of them as a business? ESPN's Ryan Hockensmith takes us into
the strange world of athletes and the trademarks they seek, as they try to turn
viral moments and images into income. Hear why trademark applications are
booming, how they work, and the "all-time" trademark story of 2020 (hint: Lou
Williams plus chicken wings). Then, Stephen A. Smith ponders Lebron James's
tumultuous and triumphant 2020.
Dec 22: Zach Lowe On NBA Season Tipoff
The NBA tips off tonight, in time to ensure Christmas basketball in 2020! Headed
into the season, LeBron's Lakers still sit atop the West, and maybe the entire
league. Mavericks star Luka Doncic appears to be the early frontrunner for MVP,
but does he have what it takes to earn that status? And with Giannis
Antetokounmpo signed and Kevin Durant returning from injury, can Jimmy Butler
and Bam Adebayo repeat last year's surprising playoff run? Zach Lowe brings us
the latest on the James Harden situation, and more. Then, Josh Hermsmeyer breaks
down the best and worst of movie football coaches.
Dec 21: So Many Touchdowns - Bill Barnwell On High-Scoring NFL Offense
This Sunday in the NFL solidified the post-season fates of teams like the
Seahawks and Bills. The games also showcased high-scoring offenses across the
league like the Chiefs, Saints, Ravens, and Cowboys. Bill Barnwell joins the
show to assess how and why scoring has increased, and how these high powered
offenses will fare in each conference come playoffs. Then, the Muppets take
Monday Night Football! Pablo talks with ESPN's Rico Labbe, who directed and
produced the Muppets for a special guest appearance.
Dec 18: Who's In? Who's Out? CFB Playoffs On The Line This Weekend
In one of the strangest college football seasons ever, the most recent college
football playoff rankings have stirred up new controversy. And the stakes are
now raised: not just for each of the teams in Saturday's conference title games,
but also for the playoff committee itself. SEC Network's Spencer Hall sorts
through what may or may not be influencing these powerbrokers, and looks at how
strong each of the title contenders really are. Then Sean Gibson, great-grandson
of legendary baseball player Josh Gibson, discusses MLB designating Negro
Leagues as major leagues, his great-grandfather's career, and the impact on
baseball.
Dec 17: The Infinite Race - What Drives the Legendary Tarahumara Runners
The latest 30 for 30 documentary "The Infinite Race" explores the story of the
Tarahumara. The indigenous runners in Mexico are famous for running incredible
distances on mountain trails, often barefoot or in sandals. Director Bernardo
Ruiz takes us behind the making of the film, which grapples with the impact of
modern, Western ultrarunners taking interest in the Tarahumara, and the
pressures on their villages from drug cartels and violence.
Dec 16: Why Shaq Barrett's On A Mission For NFL Defensive Greatness
Shaq Barrett's road to the NFL was anything but a given. Joining the Broncos
after many childhood and college challenges, Barrett struggled to distinguish
himself through his first seasons in the NFL. But a special summit for pass
rushers set him on a path to greatness. Now he's a key factor in Tampa Bay's
stout defense. ESPN's Sam Borden shares what motivates Barrett, and how he's
upped his game with the Bucs. Then, Dave Fleming brings his "Tao of Poo" to
Lamar Jackson's situation vs. the Browns on Monday night.
Dec 15: Malika Andrews on Kyrie, KD, and the Brooklyn Nets
It's been nearly a year and half since superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant
both signed with the Brooklyn Nets, a move that promised to reset the balance of
power in the NBA's Eastern Conference. But with Durant recovering from a
ruptured achilles tendon, it wasn't until this Sunday that basketball fans
finally got to see these two on the same court. Durant and Irving both looked
sharp in their preseason debut, but there are still plenty of question marks
about how these two stars will co-exist. Kyrie has spent the better part of
training camp refusing to fulfill his contractually obligated media
availability. And Durant hasn't played in an NBA game in 18 months. Add to that
first time head coach Steve Nash, and rumors swirling around James Harden's
interest in joining the Nets, and it's clear--this season in Brooklyn will be
anything but boring. Malika Andrews brings us the latest from inside Barclays
Center. Then, Cleveland native Jeff Passan joins the show to discuss how his
hometown is reacting to their baseball team changing its name.
Dec 14: Bill Barnwell on NFL Week 14
Sunday's NFL action had it all: the Bills won their second primetime game in six
days, handing the Steelers their second loss of the season. And we saw a number
of upsets, like Jalen Hurts and the Eagles beating the Saints, and surprise
performances, like Mitch Trubisky and the Bears. Elsewhere, the Dolphins
revealed some weaknesses in Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and the Raiders were
blown out by the Colts. Bill Barnwell joins the show to explain what it all
means for the playoff picture as the regular season nears a close. Then, more on
Florida basketball player Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed during a game on
Saturday.
Dec 11: The Inheritance of Archie Manning
Archie Manning is a beloved football icon, known as the father of NFL QBs Peyton
and Eli Manning, and for his own success at Ole Miss and with the Saints. Archie
grew up in tiny Drew, Mississippi and was vaulted to college football stardom in
1969 just a few weeks after suffering a dire family tragedy. Wright Thompson
spent time with Archie and his wife Olivia during close-to-home pandemic life,
and shares his reporting on the formation of a football patriarch.
Dec 10: Is Hope Building For The Washington Football Team?
In an NFL season full of unlikely things, the Washington Football Team notched a
real head-scratching outcome when they handed the Pittsburgh Steelers their
first loss of the season, 23-17. The victory came as a surprise, since
Washington's record is just 5-7. But it seems that hope is starting to brew for
Washington fans, and even the NFC East as a whole. ESPN's John Keim has covered
the NFL in Washington since the 1990s. He breaks down how far the team might go,
the amazing return of QB Alex Smith after a near-fatal injury, and how head
coach Ron Rivera has run the team while battling cancer. Then, author Tim
Wigmore of "The Best: How Elite Athletes Are Made" talks about younger siblings'
athletic advantage.
Dec 9: Twice The Fight: A Football Family Battles With Cancer
Andy Hoffman and his family found the national spotlight back in 2013 when his
7-year-old son, Jack, who was battling a brain tumor, scored a 69-yard touchdown
in a Nebraska Red and White intrasquad football game. Since then, Andy has made
it his mission to help his son and children like him to beat this disease, by
raising funds for pediatric brain cancer research through his Team Jack
foundation. Seven year later, Jack, now 15, is healthy enough to pursue his
dreams of playing high school football. But over the summer, his father Andy was
diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Now, Andy Hoffman is still fighting: to
raise awareness for pediatric brain cancer, to savor the time he has left, and
to cheer for his son on the football field. As part of ESPN's V Week, Chris
Connelly joins the show to bring us this story, as told by E:60.
Dec 8: Where In The World Is James Harden?
On December 1, the Houston Rockets opened up training camp without their star
James Harden. After requesting a trade, the face of the Rockets franchise has
been spotted partying in Atlanta and Vegas. After an off-season full of
upheaval, the Rockets are searching for a new identity: with a new front office,
head coach, and supporting cast of characters. Tim MacMahon joins the show to
tell us about the current, turbulent state of the franchise, including why
Harden wants out, and how this season might play out for Houston. Then, Pablo
reflects on the anniversary of John Lennon's death, which was announced during
Monday Night Football.
Dec 7: Bill Barnwell on NFL Week 13, Redemption, and the Playoff Picture
As the NFL playoff picture gets in focus, Sunday's Week 13 games brought
redemption for some. Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield threw five touchdown passes in
the Browns' rout over the Titans. The Jets found a bizarre new way to remain
winless, losing in the final seconds to Derek Carr and the Raiders. And in a day
seemingly full of NFL weirdness, Jalen Hurts took over at QB for the Eagles, and
the Seahawks lost to the Giants. Bill Barnwell details the "why" and "how" of
Sunday's action, with implications for this year's playoffs. Then "Laughter
Permitted" podcast host and former USWNT soccer player Julie Foudy explains the
recent legal settlement between US Soccer and the women's team.
Dec 4: The Curious Case of Frank Gore
Frank Gore might be the most underrated legend in the NFL. He sits number 3 on
the all-time rushing list behind only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. He's been
to a Super Bowl and made 5 Pro Bowls. But now, in his 16th NFL season, Gore
finds himself on a team that might not win a single game. Tim Keown joins the
show to examine why Gore has remained so under appreciated despite putting up
Hall of Fame level numbers, how he manages to keep pushing forward despite
playing on the NFL's worst team, and whether he can continue playing into 2021
and beyond. Then, Ryan McGee joins the show to talk about tomorrow's surprising
matchup between BYU and Coastal Carolina, and educate us on the ways and customs
of Myrtle Beach, SC.
Dec 3: Tiger Woods - America's Son
At just 14 years old, Tiger Woods once called himself the "Michael Jordan" of
golf. His rise to sports superstardom in the late 1990s sparked "Tigermania"
across America, which only grew after his Masters win in 1997. "Tiger Woods:
America's Son" is a special from The Undefeated airing on ESPN and coming to
ESPN+ next week. It's the story of Woods' ascendence, through the prism of race
and history. The documentary's director, ESPN's Lauren Stowell, shares how she
made the film, and why she wanted to tell this side of Tiger's story.
Dec 2: Beyond Soccer - Why Diego Maradona Meant Everything
The world lost one of the biggest names in sports when Diego Maradona died on
November 25th, at age 60. Early in his career, Maradona was a young soccer star
for a struggling Argentina. As his country reinvented itself, he went on to
become an infamous global icon. Known for his creativity and dominant goal
scoring, Maradona brought Argentinians a World Cup victory when they needed it
most, all while becoming entangled in scandal after scandal. ESPN senior writer
Wright Thompson shares his reporting on the soccer legend, and what his death
means to his home country of Argentina.
Dec 1: Rachel Nichols on NBA's Return to Action Outside The Bubble
It hasn't even been two months since the LA Lakers were crowned NBA champions,
and the league is already gearing up for a new season. Today, as teams open up
training camps amidst a surging pandemic, Rachel Nichols joins the show to
discuss if basketball can safely happen outside of a bubble, and how free agency
has shifted power in the league after the shortest offseason in NBA history.
Then, Mina Kimes tells us what it was like to be a lifeline on David Chang's
history-making episode of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"
Nov 30: Bill Barnwell on NFL Week 12 + COVID Changes
Sunday's slate of NFL games ranged from the completely normal to increasingly
bizarre. Aaron Rodgers aimed to send the Bears back to hibernation, with a
dominant Packers victory. The 49ers started to get their groove back, beating
the LA Rams on a last-second field goal. COVID chaos was in the mix, too, with
the Broncos starting a wide receiver at QB due to a team coronavirus outbreak,
and the Ravens-Steelers game moved yet again. Bill Barnwell breaks down
everything we saw on Sunday, and what to expect as the league grapples with its
biggest bout of COVID chaos yet. Then, Pablo examines a different kind of chaos
in Saturday's boxing bouts.
Nov 27: A Rare Conversation with Former Philadelphia 76ers GM Sam Hinkie
(Re-Air)
When the Philadelphia 76ers announced they were hiring Daryl Morey to be their
president of basketball operations, it turned heads across the NBA. Not just
because of Morey's track record with the Houston Rockets, but because of his
close relationship with former 76ers GM Sam Hinkie. Hinkie's tenure with the
76ers was polarizing. With some accusing him of tanking and turning the team
into a laughingstock, and others admiring his long-term vision for the team's
success...a vision that has come to be embodied by the now ubiquitous phrase
"Trust the Process." Hinkie, who was ousted from the franchise in 2016, now
works not in basketball but in business, and has founded a venture capital firm
called Eighty-Seven Capital. In a re-spin of an ESPN Daily bonus episode, Hinkie
joins Pablo Torre for a rare, wide-ranging interview that covers his time with
the Sixers, his exit from basketball, and his perspective on life away from the
game.
Nov 26: Rocky Bleier - From The Steelers To Vietnam And Back (Re-Air)
For generations, countless men and women from around the sports world have
served in our nation's military. But none have a story quite like Rocky Bleier.
Bleier won a college football national championship with Notre Dame, but during
his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was drafted into the U.S.
Army. Three months into his deployment to Vietnam, Bleier was shot through the
thigh and suffered a grenade blast to his foot. Doctors told him he'd never play
football again. But Bleier would go on to rejoin the Steelers and win four Super
Bowls with the team in the 1970s. In 2018, Bleier and ESPN's Tom Rinaldi
traveled to Vietnam, to the Hiep Duc Valley, where Bleier served, and where many
of his fellow soldiers were killed in an ambush. We re-spin this show as the
Steelers continue their undefeated 2020 season.
Nov 25: Jeremy Lin on His NBA Hopes, "Linsanity," and a Season in China
Jeremy Lin rocketed to basketball stardom with the Knicks, and "Linsanity"
ensued. But in 2019 when his Toronto Raptors won it all, free agent Lin couldn't
land a contract in the league. He spent the last season in China with the
Beijing Ducks, where he says he gained fresh perspective on the game, from
technical skill to his mentality. Lin now hopes to return to the NBA, and he's
entered free agency for the 2020-21 season. He joins the show to reflect on the
ups and downs of his career, and why he feels more ready than ever for the NBA.
Nov 24: College Basketball's Uncertain Return to the Court
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last March, it forced sports everywhere to shut
down. And while the NBA, NHL and MLB were all eventually able to return to
action, college basketball was forced to cancel the rest of their
season...including their marquee event, the NCAA Tournament. Now, more than
eight months later, college hoops makes its cautious return with a tipoff on
Wednesday. Myron Medcalf tells us the teams and players to look out for on the
court, and also whether the sport itself will be able to complete its
season...and what March Madness might look like in a pandemic. Then, Heather
Dinich sets the scene for tomorrow's college football playoff rankings, amidst
another round of postponements and positive COVID tests.
Nov 23: NFL Insider Dan Graziano Breaks Down Week 11
Week 11 in the NFL brought plenty of drama. Two overtime finishes, a last-second
touchdown on the Vegas strip, a devastating injury to Cincinnati Bengals'
quarterback Joe Burrow, and the benching of Miami Dolphins signal caller, Tua
Tagovailoa. Oh and Taysom Hill made his long-awaited debut as a starting
quarterback in New Orleans. ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano joins the show to
break down Sunday's action. Plus, more on the legacy of the Ice Bucket
Challenge, and saying good-bye to its second co-founder, who just died from ALS.
Nov 20: Can the Pittsburgh Steelers Go Undefeated?
The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0) are the NFL's last remaining unbeaten team, thanks
to a stingy defense and an offense loaded with talented skill players. After
narrow victories over Tennessee, Dallas, and Baltimore created quite a bit of
skepticism, the question still remains: can the Pittsburgh Steelers go
undefeated? Former Steelers defensive back Ryan Clark joins the show to discuss
the evolution of Ben Roethlisberger, the rise of Chase Claypool, why Mike Tomlin
is under-appreciated, and whether a team that is carried by its defense can
prevail over the high-powered offenses in today's NFL. Then, on the news of the
Warriors' Klay Thompson's injury, Andre Iguodala weighs in on his friend's road
to recovery.
Nov 19: Seahawks' DK Metcalf: Chasing Down Glory
No athlete in the NFL is quite like Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf. He's a
terrifying combination of size, and strength, and speed. But how did Metcalf
become this incredible threat for Seattle? ESPN senior writer Dave Fleming tells
us what drives 22-year-old Metcalf, and how the Seahawks are turning him into
even more: Fleming profiled Metcalf for ESPN Cover Story, out today on ESPN.com.
Then, Tim Keown talks to us from inside the Ball family compound, on the night
LaMelo Ball is drafted into the NBA.
Nov 18: Breaking Down Tonight's NBA Draft - The Players, The Picks, and Virtual
Fashion
Tonight, in a studio in Bristol, Connecticut, the 2020 NBA Draft will (finally)
unfold. After a five month postponement, tonight's draft will no doubt look
different from drafts past: no cheering fans or players shaking the
commissioner's hand on stage. But with top prospects Lamelo Ball, James Wiseman,
and Anthony Edwards all still in play for the number one pick, and players still
donning their finest suits over Zoom, there will be no shortage of
entertainment. ESPN's Mike Schmitz, who scouts draft prospects around the globe,
tells us what to expect from the top three picks -- Minnesota, Golden State, and
Charlotte -- and shares which prospects will have an immediate impact on the
league. Then, Pablo shares the story of a racing pigeon who was sold at auction
for a record *beaking* $1.9 million.
Nov 17: Woj On NBA Trades And His Giannis Podcast Special
The NBA's trade moratorium ended Monday, with rumored trades of huge stars like
James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and the shuffling of Chris Paul to the Suns.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski brings us the latest as he doggedly works his sources
and gets trade tips. Plus, as the draft approaches, Woj dishes about his new
series on reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the 2013 draft that brought
him to the NBA. Hear how Giannis got into basketball as a child in Greece, and
what he's done in two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Nov 16: Murray Magic and the Return of Jameis: Domonique Foxworth on NFL Week 10
The NFL's play of the season is being called the "Hail Murray." Kyler Murray's
43-yard prayer was answered by DeAndre Hopkins among and above three Bills
defenders to give the Cardinals a 32-30 win. It was perhaps the craziest moment
in an already wild day in the NFL...a day that saw the return of Jameis Winston
after Saints starter Drew Brees left the game with a rib injury, as well as a
Ravens-Patriots game that was almost invisible at times, thanks to some wacky
New England weather. ESPN analyst and former NFL cornerback Domonique Foxworth
takes us through Sunday's biggest moments, and examines the NFL's new proposal
for diversity in coaching and management. Then, Pablo discusses the path of new
Marlins GM Kim Ng, MLB's first female GM.
Nov 13: Is This Kyler Murray's Moment?
He's maybe 5' 10"....he's just 23 years old...but in only his second season,
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has been playing at MVP level. The first
overall pick from the 2019 draft is starting to deliver success to a Cardinals
team that hasn't been competitive since Carson Palmer was under center. Coached
by Kliff Kingsbury, who mentored QBs like Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield in
college, much of the Cardinals' magic relies on the relationship between
Kingsbury and Murray. Ahead of their matchup with the 7-2 Buffalo Bills, we
examine what's made Murray so effective this season, his unique abilities
(including his baseball background), and if 2020 has the makings of a Murray MVP
season, with ESPN Cardinals reporter Josh Weinfuss. Then, Bob Ryan shares a
special tribute to late Boston sports legend Tom Heinsohn.
Nov 12: Jeff Passan on MLB Offseason Scandals
This week, news of recently re-hired White Sox manager Tony La Russa's second
drunk driving arrest sent shockwaves through the baseball world. La Russa is
among a group of MLB decision makers which includes newly rehired Red Sox
manager Alex Cora, and former Astros GM AJ Hinch, who seem to be getting second
chances, in spite of their past questionable actions. As we make our way through
this MLB offseason, Jeff Passan joins the show to bring us the latest on the La
Russa story, and also break down new Mets owner Steven Cohen's introductory
press conference. Then, Katie Barnes explains women's college basketball
prospect Azzi Fudd, and her decision to commit to UConn.
Nov 11: Rocky Bleier: From The Steelers To Vietnam And Back
For generations, countless men and women from around the sports world have
served in our nation's military. But none have a story quite like Rocky Bleier.
Bleier won a college football national championship with Notre Dame, but during
his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was drafted into the U.S.
Army. Three months into his deployment to Vietnam, Bleier was shot through the
thigh and suffered a grenade blast to his foot. Doctors told him he'd never play
football again. But Bleier would go on to rejoin the Steelers and win four Super
Bowls with the team in the 1970s. In 2018, Bleier and ESPN's Tom Rinaldi
traveled to Vietnam, to the Hiep Duc Valley, where Bleier served, and where many
of his fellow soldiers were killed in an ambush. Today, in honor of Veterans
Day, Tom Rinaldi joins the show to recount Bleier's incredible football comeback
in the wake of a devastating combat injury, and how his return to Vietnam helped
him reconcile with the past.
Nov 10: Scott Van Pelt on a Masters Unlike Any Other
The 2020 Masters Tournament tees off Thursday from Augusta, and it's going to
look, sound and feel very different from its traditional April home. Gone are
the pastel azaleas and the roar of the patrons; in are fall foliage and sounds
of silence from Amen Corner. But it's still The Masters, and someone will be
getting a green jacket. Will Tiger Woods repeat his 2019 victory? Or will
current favorite Bryson DeChambeau win his second straight major? We check in
with Scott Van Pelt as he prepares to make the journey to Augusta, and ask him
what he's watching for in this year's tournament. Then, ESPN's Bonnie Ford
brings us her reporting on the Vendée Globe, one of sailing's most grueling
races, and is considered the ultimate socially distanced sporting event.
Nov 9: Bill Barnwell - NFL Week 9 + Midseason Awards
The NFL's regular season is more than half done, and Bill Barnwell gives us a
clearer picture of who's leading, who's trailing behind, and why. The Saints
decimated Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. The Steelers clung to victory against
the Cowboys to remain undefeated. And the Bills upset MVP-frontrunner Russell
Wilson and his Seahawks. Hear more on Bill's midseason awards, and what could
make Monday's Patriots-Jets game interesting. Then, Pablo explores the
relationship between sports and White House, and how it might change.
Nov 6: Death At The U - Who Killed Bryan Pata?
Bryan Pata was a standout defensive lineman for the University of Miami
Hurricanes, and the 22-year-old was projected to be a 2nd or 3rd round pick in
the NFL Draft. But on November 7th, 2006, after returning home from football
practice, Pata was shot and killed in the parking lot of his apartment complex.
14 years later, Pata's murder remains unsolved. Over the years, police have
pursued multiple leads in Pata's case, but they have never made an arrest, or
even publicly named a person of interest. But now, during a recent court
hearing, police say they believe they know who was responsible for Pata's death,
and that an arrest will come in the foreseeable future. ESPN's Paula Lavigne,
who reported extensively on the case, brings us up to date on the investigation.
Nov 5: Clemson's Rising Star QB: DJ Uiagalelei
With QB Trevor Lawrence sidelined with COVID-19, Clemson's freshman backup QB DJ
Uiagalelei steps into the spotlight this Saturday vs. Notre Dame. Uiagalelei has
been touted for his arm strength and decision making, and received his first
Power Five offer in the sixth grade. David Hale brings us everything you need to
know about Clemson's rising star, from his early beginnings to what he's
contributed to Clemson so far. Then, "Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis joins the
show to tell us about being a bright spot in the pop culture/sports world in
2020.
Nov 4: Replay: The National Anthem in Sports
We hear it before every major game: "The Star Spangled Banner." Throughout
sports history, the national anthem has unified the U.S. in historic moments.
It's also served as a platform to call for change. And right now, athletes are
staking their claim on the anthem more than ever, to make history themselves. In
a respin of our September episode, we explore the topic with guests Dr. Damion
Thomas, sports curator of the National Museum of African American History and
Culture; Jon Batiste, musician and band leader for The Late Show with Stephen
Colbert (who performed the national anthem for the NBA's 2020 restart); and
Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce.
Nov 3: Doc Rivers on the Rise of Athletes' Focus on Voting
Election Day 2020 has arrived. It's an unprecedented one in many ways, including
that dozens of stadiums and arenas are serving as polling places. That's a
direct result of athlete attention on voting, which took off this summer across
sports leagues, but particularly in the NBA. Veteran NBA player and coach Doc
Rivers takes us behind the scenes, to tell the story of how - against a backdrop
of social and political unrest, as players gathered in the "bubble" due to the
pandemic - voting took center stage. Plus we hear from voters outside Staples
Center in Los Angeles. You can find information on where and how to vote HERE.
Nov 2: Bill Barnwell on NFL Week 8
Halfway through the NFL's regular season, its power players look the same...but
somehow different. The once mighty Patriots have now lost four in a row, and the
Bills lead the AFC East, with Tua Tagovailoa's Miami Dolphins gaining traction.
The Steelers remain undefeated and sit atop their division, so how good are
they? Then in the NFC East, the Eagles lead the pack with a stunning 3-5-1
record. Bill Barnwell brings us up to speed on all of Sunday's NFL action. Plus
US Soccer alum, Angel City FC co-owner, and "Laughter Permitted" podcast host
Julie Foudy talks about the rise in viewers for women's sports.
Oct 30: Bonus Episode - A Rare Conversation with Former Philadelphia 76ers GM
Sam Hinkie
When the Philadelphia 76ers announced this week they were hiring Daryl Morey to
be their president of basketball operations, it turned heads across the NBA. Not
just because of Morey's track record with the Houston Rockets, but because of
his close relationship with former 76ers GM Sam Hinkie. Hinkie's tenure with the
76ers was polarizing. With some accusing him of tanking and turning the team
into a laughingstock, and others admiring his long-term vision for the team's
success...a vision that has come to be embodied by the now ubiquitous phrase
"Trust the Process." Hinkie, who was ousted from the franchise in 2016, now
works not in basketball but in business, and has founded a venture capital firm
called Eighty-Seven Capital. He joins Pablo Torre for an extremely rare,
wide-ranging interview that covers his time with the Sixers, his exit from
basketball, and his new life away from the game.
Oct 30: Trevor Lawrence, COVID-19, and College Football
On Thursday, Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence announced he had tested positive for
COVID-19, shocking the college football world. David Hale explains what the
diagnosis means for Lawrence and the rest of the sport. Then, after the Big Ten
decided to reverse its initial decision to not play this fall, their season is
underway...and the conference is now dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19 on the
Wisconsin Badgers, leading them to cancel their game this weekend with Nebraska.
In another Big Ten showdown, Ohio State plays Penn State this Saturday,
featuring possible Heisman challenger QB Justin Fields. Kirk Herbstreit joins
the show to preview that matchup, and to assess the college football landscape
so far. Plus, a preview of our first-ever bonus episode. Former 76ers basketball
executive Sam Hinkie gives a rare interview, as his friend and colleague Daryl
Morey takes his old job.
Oct 29: Is Antonio Brown Worth the Risk for Brady and the Bucs?
Antonio Brown is back in the NFL after agreeing to a one-year deal with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. On the field, Brown is one of the most prolific
wide receivers in NFL history, with over 11,000 receiving yards and 80
touchdowns in a career that began as a humble 6th round pick. But off the field,
Brown has had ongoing issues: from social media outbursts to troubling sexual
assault allegations and an arrest. After serving an eight-game suspension for
violating the NFLs Personal Conduct Policy, Brown will reunite with Buccaneers
QB Tom Brady, who was Browns teammate for one game in New England last season,
before Brown was released by the Patriots. Mina Kimes, who profiled Brown back
in 2015 for ESPN the Magazine, joins the show to discuss his tumultuous journey
to this point, and to assess whether the hall-of-fame caliber wide receiver is
worth the risk for an already surging Buccaneer offense. Then, Pablo weighs in
on the surprising news that the Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly about to hire
former Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey.
Oct 28: L.A. Dodgers Are World Series Champions
The Los Angeles Dodgers are your 2020 World Series Champions. After a thrilling
come-from-behind victory in Game 6, including a solo Mookie Betts home run, LA
finally earned its first championship ring since 1988. But the victory was as
strange as the season which preceded it, with Dodgers third baseman Justin
Turner receiving COVID test results and getting pulled from the game. Jeff
Passan joins the show from the scene in Arlington to break down what happened in
Game 6. Why did the Rays pull pitcher Blake Snell? And what does the completion
of this season mean for MLB going forward? Then: a tribute to Edmonton Oilers
great Joey Moss.
Oct 27: Tua Time Has Finally Arrived in Miami
After drafting rookie Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall this April, the Miami
Dolphins immediately envisioned him as their franchise quarterback of the
future. But with Tua coming off a hip injury that ended his college career, the
Dolphins decided to start the season with veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led
the team to a surprising 3-3 record heading into their bye week. Now, despite
Fitzpatricks success, Miami is starting Tua against the LA Rams on Sunday.
Whats behind the roster change, and how is the locker room reacting? ESPN Miami
reporter Cameron Wolfe explains whats at stake for the Dolphins at QB, and how
the team and fans alike are responding to the prospect of Tua Time in Miami.
Then, how Mike Tysons podcast might surprise you.
Oct 26: Bill Barnwell: NFL Week 7 and Trades:
Sundays slate of NFL games brought a few wild endings and surprising upsets.
The Cardinals beat the Seahawks in the final minute of overtime. The Browns
defeated the Bengals thanks to a last second Baker Mayfield touchdown pass. Todd
Gurley accidentally scored a touchdown for the Falcons, setting up Matthew
Stafford to deliver a Lions touchdown on the final play of the game - giving the
Falcons another new way to lose. Bill Barnwell breaks down this Sundays NFL
action, and whats at stake ahead of the NFL trade deadline, just 8 days away.
Plus, Khabib Nurmagomedov claimed his 29th straight victory on Saturday. Hear
why hes retiring.
Oct 23: Jon Gruden's Raiders and Tom Brady's Bucs: A Special Relationship
The Las Vegas Raiders take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, pitting
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden against both his former team and former "Tuck
Rule" game foe, Tom Brady. Gruden's personality and coaching style has long
been a part of NFL lore, throughout his first stint with the Oakland Raiders,
time in Tampa, and now a return to the newly moved Vegas team. ESPN's Paul
Gutierrez gets at what makes Gruden tick, brings us up to speed on the 2020
Raiders, and weighs the impact of a rash of positive COVID tests. Plus, how the
Raiders are settling into their Nevada home (and how Gutierrez is settling into
his Vegas digs).
Oct 22: UFC 254: Can Khabib Nurmagomedov Stay Undefeated?
UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov is 28-0 inside the octagon. He is the UFC
Lightweight Champion and viewed by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in
mixed martial arts. But on Saturday at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi, Nurmagomedov will
face his greatest challenge yet: defending his title against his highly-skilled
opponent, Justin Gaethje, and doing so just a few months removed from the death
of his father and trainer, who passed away from COVID-19 in July. ESPN's Brett
Okamoto previews Saturday's highly anticipated showdown, and tells us how
Nurmagomedov is guided by his "father's plan." Then, Sam Borden shares the story
of former Packers backup QB Graham Harrell playing flip cup with Aaron Rodgers
at a fraternity party.
Oct 21: The Most Epic Mascot Fight in College Football History
As the Big Ten kicks off this weekend, we remember the time Ohio State's Brutus
Buckeye and Ohio University's Rufus the Bobcat got into a mascot brawl for the
ages. It was 2010, and regardless of who won, the fight went viral. Did Rufus
attack Brutus unfairly and without warning? Or was it simply a loveable underdog
taking a jab at a college football powerhouse? Dave Fleming brings us the epic
tale of that fateful September day, and the years of rivalry behind it. Plus:
rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa was named starter for the Miami Dolphins, making
veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick a backup yet again.
Oct 20: Jeff Passan on a World Series Unlike Any Other
Tonight, Game One of the 2020 World Series gets underway between the Dodgers and
Rays. It's a series that promises to be as strange and intriguing as the season
it concludes. Will Clayton Kershaw exorcise his playoff demons and lead the
Dodgers to their first title in three decades? Or will the aggressively
unconventional Tampa Bay Rays upset LA to claim their first-ever championship?
And with a neutral site location and limited fans in the seats, will it feel
like a real World Series? Jeff Passan explains how LA and Tampa made it this
far, and what the fall classic in a pandemic will look like. Then, an ode to
hockey's preeminent broadcasting scholar, Mike "Doc" Emrick, who announced his
retirement on Monday.
Oct 19: Bill Barnwell on NFL Week 6
The NFL's sixth Sunday saw Aaron Rodgers suffer at the hands of the Buccaneers
relentless defense, while Ryan Tannehill and the Titans clung to victory over
the Texans in overtime. The Titans and Steelers both remain undefeated at 5-0,
but the hapless Jets fell to 0-6 amidst drama between head coach Adam Gase and
defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Bill Barnwell brings us his insights on
this weekend's football action, and if this season has met expectations
surrounding the pandemic. Then, the weirdest college football commitment video
we've ever seen (if that is even what it was?).
Oct. 16: How Saban's Absence Will Affect Georgia vs. Alabama
On Saturday, #3 Georgia visits #2 Alabama in what could be the biggest game of
the college football season. Despite not playing each other every year, the
Bulldogs-Crimson Tide rivalry has a rich history in recent seasons, with
numerous high profile matchups that have all ended in heartbreak for Georgia.
But this year might be different. Especially because Alabama will be without
head coach Nick Saban, who will miss the game after testing positive for
COVID-19 on Wednesday. ESPN's Bill Connelly explains how Saban's absence will
affect the Crimson Tide, and what the Bulldogs need to do to finally come out on
top. Then, Max Kellerman joins Pablo to preview this Saturday's big fight
between Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez.
Oct. 15: Tyrann Mathieu: How the "Honey Badger" Became an NFL Leader
Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu earned the nickname "Honey Badger," for his
fearlessness, speed and dynamic play on the football field. But one trait he
doesn't share with nature's biggest badass is not caring. Mathieu's dedication
to his teammates and community have made him a leader, on and off the field, in
spite of battling and injuries and skepticism about his character. Domonique
Foxworth wrote a Cover Story on Mathieu for ESPN.com, and joins the show to
break down what makes him a model modern NFL defenseman. Then, how the saga of
the LSU-Florida cancellation plays into the bigger story of sports safety and
the SEC.
Oct. 14: Closing Out the NBA Bubble With Malika Andrews
The NBA bubble has finally come to a close, with the LA Lakers crowned champion,
and no positive COVID tests throughout. The impressive feat has set a high bar
for sports in the pandemic. ESPN's Malika Andrews was the longest tenured
reporter inside the NBA bubble, and she returns to the show to chronicle her
exit from Orlando, and reflect on what it all meant. She's joined by ESPN
producer Malinda Adams, who was also on site from Day One. And, we get some
insights on what's next for the 2021 NBA season.
Oct. 13: Buffalo Bills: Super Bowl Contenders?
As if 2020 couldn't get any weirder....the undefeated Buffalo Bills sit atop the
AFC standings. The Bills take on the Tennessee Titans tonight in a rare Tuesday
evening game, the result of multiple recent positive COVID tests on the Titans.
With a win on Tuesday, the Bills would join Seattle as the only 5-0 teams in the
NFL, a feat that surprisingly has not been due to their highly touted defense,
but rather from their the play of their offense, and its leader, QB Josh Allen.
After several years of inconsistency, Allen's play has improved dramatically
this season, and he now ranks 3rd in the NFL in quarterback rating. ESPN Bills
reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques makes the case for why these Bills could have what
it takes to make a potential Super Bowl run. Then, Mike Schur, mind behind "The
Office" "Parks and Recreation" and "The Good Place" remembers Reds legend Joe
Morgan.
Oct. 12: Lakers Are NBA Champions + Bill Barnwell on NFL Week 5
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are NBA champions, after a six game
final series against Miami. Many dedicated the win to deceased Lakers legend
Kobe Bryant. Hard to believe, but the longest season in NBA history began almost
one year ago. The league has struggled with a pandemic hiatus, creating a
bubble, and navigating a social movement against racial injustice that swept all
of sports. And the Lakers, after all of it, came out on top, in a 106-93 win.
Dave McMenamin shares all the things this victory means. Then Bill Barnwell
brings us the latest on this week in the NFL: the impact of Dak Prescotts
injury, how the Raiders were able to contain Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and
to what degree NFL schedule changes affect which teams.
Oct. 9: Is This D'Eriq King's Heisman Moment?
When the #7 Miami Hurricanes take on #1 Clemson on Saturday night, it will be a
matchup of two of this year's top contenders for the Heisman Trophy. One is a
household name to college football fans: Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, whose
golden boy image and physical gifts have made his success seem preordained. The
other, is shorter, less heralded...and has been underestimated his entire
career...Miami QB D'Eriq King. King's road to this marquee matchup has been
anything but normal. After beginning his career at the University of Houston,
King was asked to redshirt as a senior when the team got off to a rocky start.
Instead of returning to the Cougars, King transferred to Miami for his senior
year. Off the field, he's faced personal tragedy: his mother was diagnosed with
breast cancer last year, and his father died this February of a heart attack.
Sam Khan Jr. has covered King since his high school football days, and joins the
show to share King's unique story. Then: an ode to Dion Waiters, the most
unlikely possible NBA champion, ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Oct. 8: From the Air Raid to Bigfoot: Is the SEC Ready for the Mike Leach
Experience?
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is unlike anyone else in college
football. After nearly two decades at Texas Tech and Washington State, he's now
taken his talents to the SEC, where his team has upset reigning NCAA champions
LSU and lost to lowly Arkansas through the first two weeks of the season. Ryan
McGee brings us some of his all-time Mike Leach stories, and discusses how his
unique personality might be received in the toughest conference in college
football. Then: Scottie Pippen helps you fall asleep.
Oct. 7: MLB Divisional Storylines + Rising Latino Stars
MLB's divisional series saw tons of action on Tuesday. In the ALDS, the New York
Yankees fell to the Tampa Bay Rays, bringing that series to 1-1. Earlier, the
Houston Astros went up 2-0 over the Oakland A's, thanks to George Springer's
homers. ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan brings us his playoff insights from
Arlington, Texas, where he's covering the NLDS: Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Atlanta
Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 9-5, then the LA Dodgers won the first game of
their series with the San Diego Padres. Later, Mauricio Pedroza joins the show
to explore the rising prominence of Latino players in MLB.
Oct. 6: Inside the Bubble with Malika Andrews for Game 4 of the NBA Finals
After Jimmy Butler's dominant performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals and the
trash talk that came with it, Tuesday's Game 4 promises to turn up the heat (pun
intended) on the Lakers. Miami has ruined LA's chances of a sweep, and now hopes
to ride the wave of momentum to even the series. The Heat are also looking to
get their injured stars Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic back from injury. Malika
Andrews joins the show from inside the bubble, where she's been for nearly 100
days, to tell us what she expects to see in Game 4, and what she's learned from
covering the strangest postseason in NBA history.
Oct. 5: Bill Barnwell on NFC East + Impact of COVID-19
A crisis over coronavirus spread across the NFL in recent days. Following a rash
of positive tests on the Tennessee Titans, Patriots QB Cam Newton also tested
positive, as did the Chiefs practice QB Jordan Ta'amu. The Titans-Steelers game,
scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed to later in the season, and the
Patriots-Chiefs game, also scheduled for Sunday, is now tonight, in a Monday
doubleheader. Bill Barnwell breaks down the impact of COVID-19 on NFL teams'
schedules and rosters, and assesses the NFC East, currently the worst division
through four Sundays of action. Then, a remembrance of St. Louis Cardinals
pitcher Bob Gibson.
Oct. 2: WNBA Finals + Satou Sabally on Her Rookie Season
The WNBA finals tip off tonight in the Bradenton, Florida bubble. The Seattle
Storm, led by Sue Bird in her bid for a fourth championship, take on 2020 MVP
A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces. ESPN's LaChina Robinson previews the
contenders and the path that got them here. Then, Dallas Wings All-Rookie star
Satou Sabally shares stories from inside the WNBA bubble. We talked to her
throughout the summer, to get a portrait of a rookie season unlike any other.
Plus, Josh McCown on what it's like to be with the Eagles as the NFL's only
"Quarantine Quarterback."
Oct. 1: The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius
Runner Oscar Pistorius became the first double leg amputee to compete in the
Olympic Games, when he took the track in London in 2012, inspiring athletes
around the world. Then in 2013 Pistorius' girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was shot
dead at his home, and he was convicted of her killing, in one of South Africa's
most infamous trials. Dan Williams was a correspondent for ESPN in South Africa
from 2007 to 2013, where he covered Pistorius' athletic career and court
proceedings. Williams is featured in the four-part documentary "The Life and
Trials of Oscar Pistorius," available on ESPN+ now.
Sep. 30: LeBron James and the Miami Heat: From Champions to Breakup to NBA
Finals Opponents
The NBA Finals tip off tonight between the Miami Heat and LA Lakers. And while
the series is loaded with intriguing storylines, perhaps none is bigger than the
drama surrounding LeBron James facing off against his former team. LeBron won
two rings in Miami, and with the help of superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh,
seemed destined for years more of dominance. But in 2014, LeBron decided to take
his talents back to Cleveland, stunning many within the Heat organization: Heat
team president Pat Riley was furious that a team he thought would be a
decade-long dynasty went up in smoke. ESPN's Brian Windhorst takes us inside the
complicated relationship between LeBron and Riley...and what it means for one of
the most unexpected NBA Championship matchups we've seen in years.
Sep. 29: MLB Playoffs Preview
Ready or not, it's time for playoff baseball! After one of the strangest (and
shortest) MLB regular seasons in history, the postseason begins today...and it's
shaping up to be equally bizarre. 16 teams have advanced to the Wild Card round,
which consists of a best-of-three game series played at the higher seeded team's
home ballpark. The format is primed for unpredictability, in a season that has
been defined by it. Will the Dodgers and Yankees fulfill the predictions of so
many, and cruise to a World Series battle of the titans? Or will some of the
more unexpected participants, like the Miami Marlins and the Toronto (aka
Buffalo) Blue Jays shock everyone? Jeff Passan joins the show to explore how we
ended up with these wild playoffs, and what he expects to see going forward.
Then, "Remember the Titans" at 20: how Trevor Rabin's iconic score embedded
itself in sports history.
Sep. 28: Bill Barnwell on NFL Undefeated Teams + Monday Preview
Through three NFL Sundays only a handful of teams remain undefeated. Russell
Wilson led the 3-0 Seahawks to a thrilling win over Dak and the Cowboys. The 3-0
Bills blew a 28-3 lead, but Josh Allen's 4th quarter heroics secured the victory
for Buffalo. Meanwhile, the 3-0 Bears scored three touchdowns in the 4th, coming
from behind to beat the Falcons. Bill Barnwell compares the league's leaders,
and previews tonight's Chiefs-Ravens game. Plus, a few words show the power of
LeBron James.
Sep. 25: SEC Football Kicks Off
After months of debate and uncertainty, the SEC kicks off this weekend, three
weeks later than originally planned. It promises to be a strange season in so
many ways...there are no non-conference games, limited fans will be allowed in
stadiums, and tailgating will be forbidden on campus. Meanwhile, coaches like
LSU's Ed Orgeron and Alabama's Nick Saban focus on preparing their players for
the new normal. And new coaches like Mississippi State's Mike Leach and Ole
Miss's Lane Kiffen promise to bring even more intrigue to the conference.
Spencer Hall from the SEC Network's "Thinking Out Loud" brings us all the
updates you need to know about the SEC, and everything else happening around
college football.
Sep. 24: A Football Family Carries On After Coronavirus Takes Coach
In football-obsessed Oxford, Mississippi, Nacoma James was a beloved high school
football coach and math teacher at Lafayette High School. In August, James died
due to complications of coronavirus. In September the school decided to play
football this season. James' widow Laticia supports the team, even as she
struggles to find her way back to social life in a town centered on the sport.
ESPN's Elizabeth Merrill shares the story of James' life and untimely death at
age 42, and weighs the community's pain over his loss, alongside the risk of the
pandemic and a deep love of football.
Sep. 23: The Stanley Cup Final and NHL Bubble Confidential
The Stanley Cup playoffs have been a major success in the age of the pandemic,
as the league's bubble sites in Toronto and Edmonton returned little to no
positive tests since their launch in early August. With Game 3 of the Stanley
Cup Final between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Dallas Stars set to take place
on Wednesday, ESPN's Emily Kaplan joins the show as one of the few American
sports reporters currently in Edmonton, to talk about the action on the ice and
give us a glimpse at life inside the NHL bubble. Among her revelations: why fly
fishing is a running joke amongst players, why avoiding eye contact is critical,
and something called "the prison yard." Plus, why Michael Jordan believes the
timing is "perfect" for him to become a NASCAR owner.
Sep. 22: Inside Jimmy Butler's Psyche
The Miami Heat lead the Boston Celtics 2-1 in the NBA's Eastern Conference
Finals, thanks largely to a dominant postseason performance from Jimmy Butler.
Through his ten seasons in the league, Butler's ferocious competitiveness and
polarizing personality have contributed to departures from his previous three
teams. But now, in the Miami Heat, Butler seems to have found a home and team
that is as passionate about the game as he is. With the Heat two wins away from
a trip to the finals, and Butler as their unquestioned leader on the court, the
31-year old may finally rise to the next level of NBA stardom. Nick Friedell has
covered Butler since he first came into the league, and takes us inside Butler's
psyche. Then, an ode to golfer Danny Lee's 6-putt Saturday.
Sep. 21: Injury Updates and 0-2 Lessons with Bill Barnwell
The NFL was hampered by injuries to stars around the league on Sunday. Among
them? Saquon Barkley going down for the Giants, Carolina RB Christian McCaffrey,
and many, many 49ers, including Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Bosa, and Raheem Mostert.
Considering the impact of those injuries, many teams have now dropped to 0-2.
Bill Barnwell discusses the severity of injuries around the league, and explains
what's at stake for football's winless teams. Plus, a tribute to the late
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg: athletic inspiration.
Sep. 18: Are the Denver Nuggets The Team To Beat?
The Denver Nuggets are the Cinderella story of this year's NBA playoffs. After
overcoming back-to-back 3-1 deficits in their series vs. the Jazz and the
Clippers, and squashing any hopes for a potential "Battle of LA," the Nuggets
tip off tonight against LeBron James and the Lakers. Zach Lowe explores how
Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets got here - and whether they have what
it takes to get past the Lake Show. Then, how "Quarterback Whisperer" Bruce
Arians is finding new ways to loudly motivate Tom Brady.
Sep. 17: The 1970 USC-Bama Game Broke (Some) Racial Barriers
In September 1970 the USC Trojans, a racially integrated team, traveled to
Birmingham, Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide, where only white players were
allowed on the roster. And the game - a blowout by USC - put college football in
the South on solid ground toward desegregation. Sam Borden spoke to several
players who suited up that day for USC and Alabama, and shares their account of
the legendary game with Pablo Torre. In this current moment of national dialogue
on racial justice and police violence, and with college athletes speaking out
more than ever before, these alums also consider how much progress has been made
in the past 50 years, or not. Plus, how politics plays into the Big Ten college
conference decision to hold a season, after all.
Sep. 16: The Legend of MLB Umpire Joe West
Joe West is the MLB's longest tenured umpire, and certainly the most
recognizable. Over the course of his 40-year-plus career, he's been at the
center of numerous controversies, and his confrontational style has made him a
figure that both players and fans love to hate...even if they grudgingly respect
him. Tim Kurkjian recently profiled West, who is on track to break the all-time
record for games as an umpire early next year, and joins Pablo Torre to tell the
story of one of baseball's all time characters.
Sep. 15: Dan Le Batard on Heat-Celtics Rivalry
Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals tips off tonight between the Miami
Heat and Boston Celtics. The Heat have been one of the biggest surprises in this
year's NBA playoffs, after first sweeping the Indiana Pacers, and then knocking
off the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the
second round. Now, in taking on the Celtics, the Heat renew a bitter rivalry
from earlier this decade, when the two teams faced off in three consecutive
playoffs. Dan Le Batard joins Pablo Torre to explore the buildup behind this
series, as well as how Miami is embracing this new underdog version of the Heat,
a role they certainly never played when they were winning championships with
LeBron and Dwyane Wade.
Sep. 14: NFL QBs Report: Week One
The NFL's season kicked off to a thrilling start, as Tom Brady earned his first
loss as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer to the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, Cam Newton
rushed for two TDs in his debut as a New England Patriot. Around the league,
2018's draft class had a chaotic day, with Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson
squaring off while Josh Allen took on Sam Darnold...and Josh Allen. Bill
Barnwell surveys the weekend's football action, and examines where these
quarterbacks stand following their week one performances.
Sep. 11: Trevor Lawrence Has The Loudest Voice in College Football
In any normal year, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence would already have an
enormous voice in college football. He is the most well-known player in the
country, a Heisman Trophy favorite, and is widely expected to be the first
overall player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. But 2020 is no ordinary year, in
college football or anywhere else: and Lawrence is increasingly speaking out on
issues ranging from the global pandemic to racial injustice. It's not a role
Lawrence has asked for, but it found him, as fellow players, the media, even the
President of the United States want to hear what Lawrence has to say. Hallie
Grossman joins the show to explain just how Lawrence found himself in the middle
of every issue in college football, and how he plans on using his massive
platform.
Sep. 10: The Anthem in Sports: What's Next
We hear it before every major game: The Star Spangled Banner. Throughout
sports history the national anthem has unified the U.S. in historic moments.
Its also served as a platform to call for change in our country. And right now
athletes are staking their claim on the anthem more than ever, to make history
themselves. We take a deep dive into this present moment, and how it speaks to
the past and future of the anthem's role in sports. Our guests are Dr. Damion
Thomas, sports curator of the National Museum of African American History and
Culture, and Jon Batiste, musician and band leader for The Late Show with
Stephen Colbert (who performed the national anthem for the NBA's 2020 restart),
plus Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce. As the NFL lines up to start its season,
we also explore playing Lift Every Voice and Sing in the pregame, and whether
anthems should continue as part of sports.
Sep. 9: Deshaun Watson Is Ready To Be Heard
QB Deshaun Watson takes the field for the Texans on Thursday night, armed with a
fresh 4-year deal worth over $177 million, the second biggest in NFL history
behind only the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes. Watson has found success at every
level of his football career...from the public housing project in Georgia where
he grew up, to Clemson where he won a national championship, and now in the NFL,
where he's made two straight Pro Bowl appearances. Through it all, Watson has
remained quiet off the field, rarely speaking on anything outside of football.
But following the killing of George Floyd, Watson has begun to use his voice. He
marched in the streets of Houston with Floyd's family, and helped lead a
campaign to remove the name of a pro-slavery politician from a building at
Clemson. Tim Keown interviewed Watson about his career and impact as a Black
quarterback, and discusses his reporting with Pablo Torre.
Sep. 8: NFL Week One Preview
The NFL season is already here (at last!) as the defending Super Bowl champion
Kansas City Chiefs face the Deshaun Watson-led Houston Texans this Thursday.
Week One's full slate of games has something for every football fan: Tom Brady
debuts with the Bucs, Joe Burrow takes the helm for the Bengals, and the Cowboys
get the chance to live up to the hype surrounding their offense. Mina Kimes
joins Pablo to preview this week's football action.
Sep. 7: The Secret History of the Korean Bat Flip
Korean baseball energy is very much about the audience, performance and
celebration. That includes big time bat flips. Mina Kimes traveled to Korea to
get to the bottom of how a taboo in MLB became a signature of KBO play. In a
re-spin of one of our favorite episodes, Pablo Torre asks Mina about her journey
to Korea to investigate how bat flipping became part of their game, tied to the
bigger history of the sport abroad.
Sep. 4: Kentucky Derby Runs Amid Racing Crisis
The 146th running of the Kentucky Derby is Saturday, resuming after a four month
delay due to the pandemic. While the event brings more attention and eyeballs to
the sport of horse racing, the Derby also invokes a conversation surrounding the
sports biggest crisis. The new ESPN podcast series "Bloodlines" looks into the
deaths of horses at Californias Santa Anita racetrack, since a spike in
fatalities began in 2019. Animal rights activists have been calling for reforms
and even pushing for horse racing to be shut down altogether. The controversy
has raised numerous questions about the complicated relationship between horses
and the Bloodlines, and how the 'sport of kings ' found itself in jeopardy.
Sep. 3: Inside the Washington Football Team's Workplace Culture
The Washington Football Team's offseason has been anything but quiet. In July,
the team changed its name after years of public protests. And in the past couple
weeks, a series of exposés in the Washington Post have highlighted the team's
workplace culture, which a number of current and former female employees have
alleged is rife with sexism and harassment. Jeremy Schaap interviewed four of
these women this week, and brings us their stories of working for an
organization that they say was openly hostile to the women employed there.
Sep. 2: College Football Season: What Comes Next?
College football is off to a strange and uneven start. The SEC, ACC, and a few
other conferences kicked off their season last weekend. Meanwhile the Big 10,
which cancelled its season, seems to be muttering about regrets or even
reconsidering, and the Pac-12 remains firmly out of the picture. Paul Finebaum
explains the decisions and power struggles still at play even as college
football kicks off, which stars are opting out to prepare for the NFL draft
instead, and what it will take for the season to stay on course in coming weeks.
Sep. 1: Why Lionel Messi Wants Out of FC Barcelona
Lionel Messi is arguably the most famous athlete on the planet. The soccer
superstar has claimed practically every individual and team accolade at the club
level, and has rewritten the record books in his 17 years with FC Barcelona. But
now, the man who many consider the greatest player in soccer history, says he
wants to move on from the club he has played for his entire pro career. Messi's
discontent with Barcelona has been brewing for months, but after a humiliating
8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, his
frustrations seem to have finally come to a head. ESPN's Sam Borden explains the
origin of Messi's breakup with Barcelona, and explores where the Argentine star
might be headed next. Then, J.A. Adande shares his experience as a young
reporter covering the late John Thompson, Georgetown basketball coaching legend.
Aug. 31: Michael Jordan's Role as NBA Mediator
NBA players wanted team owners to listen. That's what they told the GOAT.
Following the Milwaukee Bucks' boycott over the police shooting of Jacob Blake,
and the further postponement of more NBA playoff games last week, next steps
were unclear. LeBron James, a go-to leader on activism, reportedly walked out of
a players meeting. Then, a surprising ally reached out from the ownership side:
Michael Jordan. With the playoffs now resumed, Jackie MacMullan breaks down why
MJ was suited to work as a mediator, and how leadership and activism play into
Jordan and James' legacies.
Aug. 28: Kelly Loeffler vs. the Atlanta Dream
Over the summer, Georgia Senator and Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler
criticized the WNBA's support for Black Lives Matter via a letter sent to WNBA
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The letter prompted Dream players to wear shirts
emblazoned with "Vote Warnock," Loeffler's political rival, and sparked a war of
words between Loeffler and the players. As of now, Loeffler remains a co-owner
of the Dream - and the players remain as politically engaged as ever. On the
anniversary of Martin Luther King Junior's speech from which the Atlanta Dream
take their name, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne takes us inside the battle between
Loeffler and the Dream's players. Will Loeffler's stance ultimately be a gift or
liability for her on election day? And what comes next when a team's own players
are actively fighting to end their owner's political career?
Aug. 27: How the Bucks' Boycott Sparked a Wave of Sports Postponements
On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks sent shockwaves around the world when they did
not take the floor for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic as an act of protest
following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Shortly afterwards, the other two
NBA playoff games slated for Wednesday were postponed - with each team's players
refusing to play. From there, games across the WNBA, MLB, and MLS were
postponed, as athletes everywhere expressed their solidarity. Later last night,
NBA players met to discuss their next moves, and how to move forward together.
Malika Andrews brings us the latest from the bubble on how things are playing
out.
Aug. 26: How to Stop Lamar Jackson in 2020 (Hint: Pray)
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson seemed like he'd finally put the doubters to
rest, after a jaw-dropping season where he became just the second unanimous MVP
in NFL history. But following a shocking early exit from the playoffs at the
hands of the Tennessee Titans, Jackson has once again faced questions about
whether he can ever be a championship quarterback. Now entering his third season
under center for Baltimore, Jackson will be drawing maximum attention from
opposing defenses....who have had an entire off-season to scheme for him. The
question is: will any of it work? Or is Jackson simply too transcendent a talent
to be contained? ESPN's Domonique Foxworth discusses whether Jackson and the
Ravens can live up to the hype, and what defenses can try to do to prepare.
Aug. 25: Do It For the 'Gram: How Social Media is Transforming High School Hoops
Social media has given national audiences a front row seat to high school
basketball players like never before. Instagram accounts belonging to UConn
recruit Paige Bueckers and California's Kyree Walker have reached half-a-million
followers and climbing. Then there's LaMelo Ball and Bronny James (LeBron's son)
who've used the hype surrounding their families, plus their own on-court
highlights to propel their follower counts to over 5 million. But behind the
scenes, coaches are concerned that the appeal of social media fame is warping
how players approach the game. Scouts and recruiters are wondering if the skills
actually match the hype. And experts are questioning if these kids can handle
the pressure and pain that comes with added online scrutiny. ESPN's Joon Lee
joins the show to explore how Instagram is changing the culture of basketball,
and if it's for better, or for worse.
Aug. 24: Luka and the Point God: NBA Playoffs Wild Weekend
Luka Doncic arrived in style on Sunday, hitting an overtime buzzer beater to
even the series between his Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers at 2
games apiece. It capped off a historic 43 point triple double for the 21 year
old prodigy. Meanwhile, Chris Paul bullied his way past the Houston Rockets
keeping the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fight. ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz joins the
show to discuss these standout performances from the first round of the NBA
playoffs.
Aug. 21: Enes Kanter: Enemy of the State
In a time when athletes everywhere are speaking out about causes that are
personal to them, perhaps no one has risked more...and been more
outspoken...than Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter. Kanter grew up in Turkey,
which has been embroiled in a years-long fight over leadership of the nation.
Kanter became involved in Turkish politics when he voiced support for Fethullah
Gulen, a US based Muslim cleric who was blamed for a coup attempt by Turkey's
president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Since the coup attempt, the Turkish government
has cracked down on anyone with ties to Gulen, and has sought to extradite
Kanter back to Turkey where he would almost certainly face severe punishment.
Jeremy Schaap reported on Kanter's struggles for E:60 last year, and joins the
show to discuss his findings. Then, Enes Kanter himself brings us his firsthand
perspective on what it's like being a fugitive from his homeland. Episode Alert
Text: Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter is a man without a country. Jeremy
Schaap reported on Kanter's battle with the Turkish government for E:60 last
year, and joins the show to discuss his reporting. Then, Enes Kanter brings us
his firsthand perspective.
Aug. 20: LaMelo Ball: The Most Famous Mystery in Basketball
Tonight, the NBA holds its draft lottery, when the hopes and dreams of 14
franchises hinge on a set of bouncing ping-pong balls that will decide their
fate. And while we don't know which team will be picking first...many suspect
the first player selected will be 18-year-old LaMelo Ball. LaMelo, his older
brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo, and their father LaVar Ball, have become
basketball's most famous...some would say most infamous...family. They have
millions of followers on social media and their own reality show, "Ball in the
Family." But somehow, LaMelo has remained something of an enigma for hoop fans,
largely because he's spent the past several years playing in Lithuania and
Australia, instead of committing to a big time college program. In January,
ESPN's Tim Keown spent time with Ball in Australia, and shares his up-close
reporting on Ball as a person and as a player
Aug. 19: Alex Smith's Return to Football
The injury that Washington Quarterback Alex Smith suffered to his right leg on
November 18, 2018 not only threatened his football career, it nearly cost him
his leg, and even his life. This week, more than a year and a half later, he
returned to the practice field, cleared to resume football activities. ESPN's
Stephania Bell joins the show to chronicle Smith's rehabilitation, and explain
just what drove him to return to action.
Aug. 18: NFL 2020 Season Preview with Mina Kimes
August plays host to NFL preseason in a normal year. However, 2020 is anything
but ... normal. While the NFL isn't planning a bubble, it is adapting practice
and training around coronavirus risk. With no full preseason scrimmages, how
ready is each team to jump right in, and how are coaches vetting their lineups?
ESPN NFL analyst (and former ESPN Daily host) Mina Kimes runs through the
chances for Joe Burrow and the Bengals, how things are going in Tampa for Tom
Brady, and whether her Seahawks have improved this offseason.
Aug. 17: Doris Burke on NBA Playoffs
The NBA's shortened regular season has wrapped and now, it's on to a uniquely
historic playoffs. The matchups are set and all the action tips off tonight in
Orlando. The Bucks and Lakers were the teams to beat before the pandemic. Are
they still? Will Giannis Antetokounmpo walk away as MVP? How will the Lakers
fare against Damien Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers, surprise bubble
darlings? Doris Burke brings us her analysis and context from Orlando, insights
on which teams are poised to succeed, and her reflections on what it's taken to
get to the postseason.
Aug. 14: Desus & Mero on Sports Fandom in a Pandemic
Desus Nice and Kid Mero, aka The Bodega Boys, make New York sports fandom - in
all its glory and shame - a big part of "the brand" they've built during their
rapid rise as comics. The podcast hosts turned Showtime stars join the show to
talk sports and life, like what's lost when you can't attend Yankees game in
person, their NBA bubble fantasies, why new faces in Madison Square Garden can't
fix the Knicks' fortunes, and what's it like to be wined-and-dined by that other
basketball team across town.
Aug. 13: UFC 252: The Fight for Daniel Cormier's Legacy
This Saturday is UFC 252 in Las Vegas, where Daniel "DC" Cormier will fight
Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title. Now 41-years old, Cormier has been on
the brink of retirement for over a year, and is hoping to win and leave the
sport on top. DC's career has been turbulent -- filled with personal tragedies
and countless second-place finishes. Can a victory on Saturday alter the
narrative for Cormier, or will DC forever be remembered as second best? ESPN's
Ariel Helwani, who profiled Cormier last year for E:60, joins Pablo Torre to
discuss DC's life and legacy. Then, Pablo shares his experience as a virtual fan
at Monday's Pacers-Heat game.
Aug. 12: MLB Eyes Playoff Bubble and the Rise of Fernando Tatis Jr.
Major League Baseball has already weathered multiple outbreaks of COVID-19,
prompting the league to update its protocols, after the integrity of its season
was threatened. Now, the league is considering taking the same route as the NBA
and NHL to ensure a successful postseason: playing inside a bubble. Jeff Passan
brings us the latest on MLB's efforts to contain the coronavirus. Then, Jeff
shares his reporting on the breakout star of this MLB season, the San Diego
Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. Jeff's recent profile of Tatis Jr. for ESPN Cover
Story took him to the Dominican Republic to tell the budding superstar's story.
Aug. 11: The Fate of College Football's 2020 Season
College football's 2020 season hangs in the balance. Over the weekend, the
Mid-Atlantic Conference cancelled its season. Today, big meetings and movements
are expected from the Big Ten, PAC-12, and other conferences as they consider
their options amidst growing concern around coronavirus. It's a decision that's
become both political and personal, as conferences across the country have
navigated the variations in protocols at the state, city, and university levels.
On Monday, President Trump even weighed in on the situation, tweeting "Play
College Football!" Adam Rittenberg brings us the latest, specifically on the Big
Ten. Then, Cal offensive lineman Valentino Daltoso, who helped organize the
PAC-12's "We Are United" movement, weighs in with the player perspective.
Aug. 10: Tom Brady, Buccaneer: Inside the QB's New Routine
As the NFL regular season looms, QB Tom Brady is adjusting to his new role in
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pocket. Different playbooks, unfamiliar facilities, and
a new climate all present challenges to the veteran QB. Meanwhile, his Buccaneer
teammates are adjusting to a new play caller under center. ESPN's Jenna Laine
brings us her reporting on how Brady is getting used to working in Tampa with a
new team. Then, 18-year NFL QB veteran Josh McCown explains how difficult it is
to learn a new playbook - considering McCown has learned 16 different ones over
the course of his long football career.
Aug. 7: Pete Alonso: Poking the Polar Bear
New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso set the record for rookie home runs in
2019, and announced himself as New York's other young superstar alongside the
Yankees' Aaron Judge. But before the "Polar Bear" took MLB by storm, as a child
growing up in Tampa, he was the target of bullying. Baseball became Alonso's
escape, but even as his career took him to the University of Florida, bullying
followed him. ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney spent time with Alonso ahead of
his E:60 profile, which airs this Sunday at 5pm ET on ESPN, and joins the show
to discuss the struggles Alonso battled on his journey to MLB.
Aug. 6: Allegations of Abuse at NBA China Academies
A recent ESPN investigation uncovered allegations of abuse, as well as a lack of
schooling for athletes at three NBA China basketball academies. The report comes
at a time when scrutiny on the NBA's relationship with China has never been
greater. In October Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted his support for
pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, prompting a severe reaction from China,
which included pulling NBA broadcasts from the airwaves despite the league's
widespread popularity in the country. Investigations into human rights abuses in
the Xinjiang province, where one of the basketball academies was located, have
also prompted many to criticize the NBA's ties to China. ESPN investigative
reporter Steve Fainaru brings us his latest reporting on what happened inside
the NBA China academies, and how the league is addressing these concerns.
Aug. 5: How PAC-12 Player Demands Will Impact College Football
College football continues to grapple with how to proceed with a season, with
plans that vary in conferences across the country. A group of PAC-12 players
published a document in the Players Tribune with a list of demands surrounding a
number of issues: player health and safety, wealth inequality, and racial
injustice. The players are threatening to opt out of the season if their
concerns are not addressed to their satisfaction, posing an unprecedented
challenge to the conference and the NCAA. UCLA football players Elisha Guidry
and Otito Ogbonnia join the show to explain why they got involved with the
movement. Then ESPN's Mark Schlabach gives more context on the PAC-12 players'
actions within the college football landscape.
Aug. 4: MLB and NFL: COVID-19 Impact on Athletes
As live sports resume, pro athletes are grappling with the threat of
coronavirus, to their own health, their families and their careers. MLB has
suspended multiple games due to COVID-19 outbreaks, and the NFL has seen several
players opt out of training camp and the 2020 season. While frequent testing and
other protocols have been enacted across pro leagues, there is still a lot
that's unknown about the physical impact of the virus, even on a healthy, young
athlete's body. ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell has been paging through
medical studies and the leagues' protocol documents. She has an insider's take
on how teams and players are making decisions in the face of the pandemic.
Aug. 3: JJ Redick: Life with the Pelicans in the NBA Bubble
The NBA has made it through its first games of the restart, and JJ Redick of the
New Orleans Pelicans is happy to be hooping once again - with rookie star Zion
Williamson, no less. We get an inside look from the bubble in Orlando (including
Redick's third-best hotel situation), and all the reasons the 14-year pro says
this season is unlike any other. Hear how Redick and his teammates are keeping
momentum and focus, on and off the court, including actions around racial
justice issues. Plus, Redick talks to Pablo about future podcast plans and
finding his voice.
Jul. 31: Why the NHL Restart Can Work (Hint: Canada)
Lace up your skates and throw on your sweaters, hockey fans...well, at home
anyway. This weekend kicks off the league's return to play, beginning with round
robins for the top four seeds in each conference and qualifying rounds for the
remaining teams. Edmonton and Toronto play host to the Western and Eastern
Conference bubbles. ESPN NHL insider Greg Wyshynski gives us the lowdown on how
the playoffs will work, what hockey will look, sound, and feel like without
fans, and why the league chose Canada. Greg also tells us who he thinks will
take home the Stanley Cup.
Jul. 30: Dr. Anthony Fauci on the Return of Sports in America
Dr. Anthony Fauci joins Pablo Torre to discuss the challenges, risks, and
rewards of the return of sports in America after more than four months of
shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. It's an issue that has become
increasingly stark in recent days with the outbreak of COVID-19 on the Miami
Marlins. Dr. Fauci weighs in on MLB's response to the Marlins' situation and
what it means for the rest of the baseball season. He also discusses leagues
operating in a bubble, like the NBA, and assesses the NHL's decision to play in
Canada. While the NFL commences its training camps and college football
considers its options, Dr. Fauci explores the possibilities surrounding football
season, and describes the long term effects of coronavirus on athletes. Then,
one of Dr. Fauci's high school basketball teammates gives us some insight on
what Fauci was like as an athlete.
Jul. 29: NBA Restart: Which Teams Have the Advantage?
After more than four months on hiatus, the NBA returns to play tomorrow night
from its bubble in Orlando. The players have acclimated to their resort setting
- minus Clippers guard Lou Williams, who ventured outside of the clean site for
some wings - and the teams are finally set to tip off. Which teams will benefit
most from the long pause? Which players have the most to prove? And will we see
Zion Williamson in action with the Pelicans on Thursday? ESPN's Jackie MacMullan
picks the top contenders, and explains why she believes Lou Williams about his
wing journey.
Jul. 28: MLB Marlins' Coronavirus Outbreak, Plus Dodgers v. Astros Rivalry
On Monday, at least 11 players and two coaches for MLB's Miami Marlins tested
positive for coronavirus, after completing their opening series against the
Philadelphia Phillies. The positive tests resulted in several MLB game
postponements, and raised larger concerns about the league's health and safety
protocols. ESPN's Alden Gonzalez joins Mina Kimes to discuss what happened, and
whether the league's 60-game season could be in jeopardy. Then, Alden and Mina
preview Tuesday's highly anticipated rematch of the 2017 World Series, which the
Astros won, but was thrown into question by the sign-stealing scandal, and left
the Dodgers very sore. Houston hosts Los Angeles (a matchup that would not have
happened in the regular 2020 season plans) for the first of a two-game series.
Jul. 27: Next Steps for NFL in Place: Training Camps Will Open
The NFL and its players union have reached an agreement, and pro football is
moving forward with a 2020 season. Training camps are set to open this week.
There won't be a football bubble, as teams plan to play in their home markets.
There won't be a preseason, as that has been eliminated. There won't be a lot of
time to decide, with just seven days for players to announce if they'll report
to camp. But, as of now, there will be football. ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano
explains how the deal came together, what training camp will look like, and the
latest news from around the league.
Jul. 24: Boxer Christy Martin's Fight For Her Life
World champion boxer Christy Martin is a trailblazer in her sport, just named as
an inductee into the Boxing Hall of Fame. She was perhaps the first female
fighter to make national headlines. But behind her successful career, Martin
faced emotional and physical abuse from her trainer and then-husband, Jim
Martin. In 2010, Jim violently attacked Christy, and left her for dead. ESPN's
Allison Glock interviewed Christy Martin about her career and harrowing fight
for survival, and how she has moved forward with her life and love, a decade
later.
Jul. 23: Play Ball! MLB Opening Day is (Finally) Here
It's a day that seemed like it would never come. But somehow, improbably, MLB's
Opening Day is finally here. ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan joins us from
Washington, DC where tonight the Yankees and Nationals will begin what promises
to be the oddest season in baseball history. From testing and safety, to Mookie
Betts' massive new deal, and where the Blue Jays will be playing...Passan breaks
down everything you need to know about baseball in 2020.
Jul. 22: Inside the WNBA Bubble + Season Preview
After a months-long delay, the 2020 WNBA season finally tips off this Saturday
when the New York Liberty and and no.1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu take on the
Seattle Storm and veteran star Sue Bird. But aside from the action on the court,
the season promises to be unlike any other in the league's history. Every game
will be played from the league's "clean site" at the IMG Academy in Bradenton,
Florida. In addition, some of the league's most notable names have chosen not to
play, either for health reasons, or to focus their attention on issues of social
justice and racism. ESPN's LaChina Robinson joins the show to explain how the
WNBA's bubble compares to their NBA counterparts in Orlando...and also breaks
down what to expect on the court in a season where everyone is figuring it out
on the fly.
Jul. 21: How Simone Biles Showed a New Way to Win
Winning a combined 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone Biles is the
most decorated American gymnast, full stop. And her story intersects with the
two most infamous and winning coaches of USA Gymnastics, Bela and Martha
Karolyi. The Karolyis are the subject of a new 30 for 30 investigative podcast,
"Heavy Medals: Inside the Karolyi Gymnastics Empire." It includes a look at
their complicity in the rampant sexual abuse of athletes by medical director
Larry Nassar, and how Biles navigated their restrictive culture and spoke out
against abuse. ESPN's Alyssa Roenigk shares the story of how Biles found a way
to win outside the norms of USA Gymnastics and the Karolyis.
Jul. 20: With College Football's Season at Stake, Who Makes the Call?
While pro leagues around the US are getting back to play, college football
leaders are taking several different approaches to the risk of COVID-19. Some
schools and conferences have already cancelled fall sports altogether, while
others have announced they're limiting games to in-conference opponents. And
there are some conferences, big ones like the SEC, which have yet to make a
decision on how or whether to have a fall 2020 college football season. ESPN's
college football reporter Heather Dinich walks Pablo Torre through the gamut of
options and why there's such a patchwork of possibilities, including the
scenario of a spring 2021 season. Then Emily Applegate, former employee of the
Washington football team, discusses her experiences of harassment within the
organization after being named in last week's Washington Post article.
Jul. 17: What Will Sports Sound Like Without Fans?
The roar of the crowd has always been the soundtrack of sports. Whether it's a
hearty "De-FENSE!" chant in football, or a cascade of boos after a blown call in
baseball...the crowd is the emotional heartbeat of any game. But now, with the
coronavirus pandemic making crowds impossible...and MLB, NHL and NBA on the
verge of returning to play...sports are suddenly going to sound completely
different. And for athletes and fans alike, it's going to take some getting used
to. Mina Kimes chats with players, broadcasters, and writers from around the
sports world about the impact of the sound of sports - before, during, and after
the pandemic.
Jul. 16: The Future is Now: Christian Pulisic is America's First Global Soccer
Star
The soccer world was stunned last year when the English Premier League
powerhouse Chelsea FC forked over 73 million dollars for 20-year old American
Christian Pulisic. It was a record amount of money paid for an American...and
immediately made the Hershey, PA native the most visible American ever on the
soccer stage. And while Pulisic has shown unparalleled potential at every step
of his career thus far, since the EPL's post-quarantine restart, he seems to
have fully hit his stride: earning three goals and a beautiful assist in 7
matches. ESPN's Sam Borden explains why Pulisic's signing with Chelsea was so
unique, and how his talent combined with soccer's global reach could one day
make him the biggest American sports star worldwide. Then, Bill Barnwell
discusses how the deadline for Dak Prescott to sign a contract extension with
the Dallas Cowboys came and went....without a new deal for Dak
Jul. 15: MLB's Black Voices and the Exile of Oakland A's Bruce Maxwell
In the fall of 2017, Oakland A's catcher Bruce Maxwell was the only MLB player
to kneel in protest of racial injustice, in support of Colin Kaepernick. Maxwell
was not backed up by his teammates, or by MLB at large. A high-profile encounter
with police further complicated Maxwell's career, and he wound up leaving MLB.
Now, the killing of George Floyd has led. Black players to organize in a whole
new way, while Maxwell remains apart. Howard Bryant shares Maxwell's story, the
history of Black player voices in baseball, and today's Players Alliance.
Jul. 14: Inside Washington's Name Change
It's official: after 87 years, the NFL team from our nation's capital will be
getting a new name. Many have felt the change was long overdue, but team owner
Dan Snyder has always staunchly resisted the possibility. ESPN NFL reporter John
Keim explains why this time the franchise finally decided to move on from the
name, along with reactions from players and fans, and what it may mean for other
teams with Native American nicknames.
Jul. 13: What Life is Really Like in the NBA Bubble
As NBA players report to the league's clean site in Orlando, they are entering a
whole new world of isolated life in a Disney resort. There's the daily
coronavirus testing and constant monitoring of health data just to be allowed to
move around. There are some strong opinions about the meals and accommodations.
Plus, there are pool parties, bike rides, and fishing to fill the time between
practices and workouts. How are the teams handling it? And will the bubble work
to allow for actual basketball later this month? ESPN's Malika Andrews talks to
us from her room in Orlando (where she's spending a LOT of time) to give a view
from inside the bubble.
Jul. 10: Blackfeet Boxing
It's been called an invisible epidemic. On reservations across North America,
Native American women are missing or murdered in rates ten times higher than the
general population. But on one reservation, the women are learning to fight
back, literally, by stepping into the boxing ring. On Montana's Blackfeet
Reservation, the Blackfeet Nation Boxing Club teaches young women how to defend
themselves both inside and outside the ring. It's all chronicled in a new
documentary, "Blackfeet Boxing: Not Invisible," from ESPN Films. Kristen Lappas,
who directed the documentary, reflects on her experiences, which airs at 3:30pm
ET, this Sunday on ABC. Then, former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz shares
his thoughts on DeSean Jackson's recent Anti-Semitic social media posts.
Jul. 9: Makur Maker on Why He Chose Howard University
Five-star basketball recruit Makur Maker shocked the sports world with his
decision to commit to Howard University in Washington, DC. That makes him the
highest profile prospect in recent memory to choose an HBCU. In his first
interview since the announcement, Makur joins the show today to explain his
historic decision and discuss its significance with Pablo Torre. Then, Howard
coach Kenny Blakeney talks about how he's built the program at Howard, along
with the landscape for athletics across HBCU programs.
Jul. 8: MLS is Back: Details on the Tournament, Bubble, and More
MLS is back! The aptly titled MLS is Back Tournament kicks off tonight in
Orlando, Florida at Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Despite FC
Dallas being forced to pull out of the tournament after a rash of positive
coronavirus tests, as well as the postponement of multiple matches, squads are
set to square off in the Florida heat and humidity. ESPN's Taylor Twellman
shares what life in the MLS bubble has been like so far: from training, anxiety
around injury and COVID-19, to questionable sandwiches. Then, Taylor and Mina
discuss the tournament format, and which teams are most primed to succeed.
Jul. 7: The Hero of Goodall Park
Goodall Park in Sanford, Maine is the type of ballpark that feels like sacred
ground. Over its more than 100 years of history, Goodall Park has seen its fair
share of iconic baseball moments, including a home run hit by Babe Ruth that
locals swear went 700 feet. But in 2018, Goodall Park became famous for
something else. During a Babe Ruth League baseball game, a woman drove her car
onto the field in the midst of a psychotic episode, and a 68-year-old man,
Douglas Parkhurst, was killed while trying to protect the young ballplayers. In
the aftermath, Parkhurst was hailed as a savior: that is, until a 50-year-old
secret came to light, raising questions about fate, redemption, and what it
means to be a hero. Tom Junod joins Mina Kimes to share the incredible story of
"The Hero of Goodall Park."
Jul 6: The Chess Grandmaster's Extreme Workout (Rebroadcast)
Chess grandmasters need incredible amounts of brain power, and also extreme
physical endurance, to take on their rivals. Major tournaments can run six hours
a day, ten to twelve days in a row. Players might burn up to 6,000 calories and
lose two pounds a day during these grueling matches. Today's chess world
champions might train with two hours a day of running, swimming, or tennis, plus
a strict diet. In a respin of one of our most popular episodes, ESPN's Aishwarya
Kumar joins Mina Kimes to break down how top chess players meld mind and body.
Jul. 3: Movie Rudy vs. Actual Rudy (Rebroadcast)
For today's show, a respin of one of our favorites. "Rudy" is a sports movie
classic. And it defined the life of the actual man who inspired the story, Rudy
Ruettiger, now in his 70s. Revered by many Notre Dame fans, Ruettiger is also
plagued by critics over whether the movie exaggerated a plot point or two.
ESPN's Ryan McGee spent time with the real Rudy to find out more, and he joins
Mina Kimes to discuss what's fact and what's fiction, from Rudy's point of view.
Jul. 2: Keys to the NBA's Restart
As NBA rosters take shape, the league and its players inch closer to a restart
in the "clean site" of Orlando, Florida. The NBA is addressing players' concerns
around recent movements against racial and police injustice by painting "Black
Lives Matter" on the courts, and many players are expected to kneel during the
national anthem. As the league also finalizes its coronavirus testing protocol
and rules for players participating in the clean site games, Pablo Torre breaks
down the major concerns, as well as the strength of the teams. Then, Pablo and
Mina share some exciting news about the future of this very podcast.
Jul. 1: MLB Restart: Everything You Need to Know About Spring Training 2.0
Today is the day. After a more than a three month hiatus away from baseball, MLB
players will report to their team facilities. There, they will first be tested
for the coronavirus, as baseball makes its first steps toward playing a 2020
season. But questions remain about how the restart will play out. Considering
baseball has eschewed the "bubble" plan to play in teams' home stadiums across
the country, how are players working to prevent an outbreak? What will spring
training 2.0 (a.k.a. "summer camp") look like? How will the necessary rule
changes affect the product on the field? And what could bring it all to a
screeching halt? Jesse Rogers provides the answers to these questions, and more.
Then, Joon Lee explains that baseball's recent focus on analytics has also led
to an increase in white male Ivy League graduates being hired in front offices.
Jun. 30: How Will Cam Newton Make the Patriots Better?
Former Panthers QB Cam Newton is signing with the New England Patriots. Yes, you
continue to read that correctly. After a quiet offseason for New England, many
believed the Pats were sticking by their QB, Jarrett Stidham, thus leaving the
AFC East wide open. But now that Newton is en route to Foxborough, many factors
point to this being a match made in football heaven. Bill Barnwell discusses
Cam's strengths as a QB and what he'll bring to the Patriots' existing squad.
Jun. 29: Sue Bird on the WNBA's Plan for the 2020 Season
After winning three WNBA championships, two NCAA championships, and four Olympic
gold medals, Sue Bird has seen it all in basketball. But. as she gets ready for
her 19th season in the WNBA, Bird and the rest of the league are preparing for a
season unlike any ever played before. After delaying opening tip-off by more
than two months, the WNBA is combating the coronavirus pandemic by playing the
2020 season at a "clean site" in Bradenton, FL. Add that to the increased focus
by players on social justice causes and a new CBA signed this offseason, and
it's no wonder why this is shaping up to be a historic year for the WNBA. The
Seattle Storm guard joins the show to discuss how the league and its players
came to an agreement, the impact of their new CBA, and how the WNBA has evolved
over the course of her epic career.
Jun. 26: Behind the Scenes of LeBron's "Decision"
Ten years ago, on live television, LeBron James made his now infamous decision
to leave Cleveland and "take his talents to South Beach." It was one of the most
consequential, most awkward, and most divisive moments in sports media history.
The long, drawn-out broadcast drew ire from Cavaliers fans - who felt their
homegrown star had betrayed them - and also from casual observers who disliked
the idea of an athlete wielding that level of influence. So how did "The
Decision" actually come to be? Ahead of this Sunday's new episode of
"Backstory," Don Van Natta takes us behind the production, introduces its key
players, and examines how the event forever changed the way NBA stars interact
with the public.
Jun. 25: College Football's Winding Path for 2020
College football faces a unique challenge to return. With hundreds of schools
and thousands of players, there's no centralized "bubble" possible or even any
centralized guidelines or decisions. At college programs throughout the country,
schools are presenting players with waivers to sign that they accept the risks
of training and playing amid the pandemic, while teams are seeing more and more
positive tests for the coronavirus. Spencer Hall explains the variety of
approaches and impacts we are seeing already, and how players are finding their
voices on the return to play, just as they have in recent weeks around other
social issues.
Jun. 24: X Games at 25: Tony Hawk on His Skate Career
In skateboarding, one name still stands out above the rest: Tony Hawk. Hawk's
career made him a superstar and brought newfound popularity to the sport in the
1990s. When the X Games started, it was a big change for the skate world, and
Hawk was part of that evolution. On the 25th anniversary of the X Games, Tony
Hawk chats with Mina Kimes about his skating career, landing his historic 900 at
the X Games, and the future of his sport.
Jun. 23: NASCAR's Response to Racism
NASCAR is fighting to abolish racism from its culture, and its only full-time
Black driver, Bubba Wallace, is at the forefront of that change - as well as the
backlash against it. On Monday, drivers pushed Wallace's car to the start line
together, after a noose was reportedly found in his garage at Alabama's
Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. Wallace was the driving force in NASCAR's
recent ban of the Confederate flag, Ryan McGee gives us the latest on NASCAR's
response to the racist act in its garage, and Bubba Wallace's career in racing.
Then, former global soccer star Thomas Beattie shares his decision to come out
as gay after decades of pressure related to his commitment to the sport.
Jun. 22: What Will It Take to Save the 2020 Baseball Season?
Negotiations between MLB and the players picked up last week, with both sides
swapping proposals. The latest plan from the league is in the hands of the
players, but we haven't seen a vote yet. On Sunday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred
sent a letter to MLBPA director Tony Clark with additional concessions.
Meanwhile, a flurry of positive coronavirus tests further complicates matters.
So...no vote. Is there still time left in the proposed calendar to play 60 (or
more) games? Jeff Passan updates us on where talks go from here, how the latest
COVID-19 outbreaks have impacted things, and how sustained animosity around
labor issues has factored into all of it.
Jun. 19: After the Storm: Marquise and Morgan Goodwin's Journey Through Loss,
Hope, and Parenthood
On the field, NFL wide receiver Marquise Goodwin is known for his game-breaking
speed. The new Philadelphia Eagle is not only one of the fastest players in the
NFL, but also a former Olympian in the long jump. What's less known, is that
Marquise and his wife Morgan work as advocates for parents who have suffered the
loss of an infant. It's work that is rooted in the Goodwins' own personal
journey, one which they've shared with rare openness. Dave Fleming joins the
show to reflect on the Goodwins' story, which is also featured on this Sunday'e
episode of E:60, and explains how it ultimately became a story of hope.
Jun. 18: WNBA Star Maya Moore Left the Game for Justice
Maya Moore was a WNBA superstar with multiple championships, Olympic gold medals
and pretty much every achievement in the sport to her name...when she walked
away from the game in 2019. Her reasons were mysterious at the time, but Moore's
focus became clear: to free a man from prison who she believes has been
wrongfully convicted. ESPN's Katie Barnes tells us about Moore's impact on the
case, what it means for a player of her talent to have left basketball, and how
her activism ties to the current moment around sports and social justice.
Jun. 17: Roger Bennett (Men In Blazers) on the return of the Premier League
The world's most popular sports league, the English Premier League, returns to
action Wednesday, and who better to join ESPN Daily on this occasion than an
original member of suboptimal radio, Men In Blazers' Roger Bennett? Roger and
Mina discuss Liverpool's remarkable season thus far in their quest to win their
first league championship in 30 years. The two also explore the slew of health
and safety protocols that have been put in place for the Premier League to
return to action, as well as the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that are
expected across the matches in England. And in this mad dash to finish the
season, who will qualify for Champions League and Europa League? Is Son
Hueng-min the greatest Korean soccer player ever or just the greatest soccer
player ever? Rog has all the answers.
Jun. 16: Inside the Downfall of the XFL
Four months ago, the XFL kicked off with hopes of becoming the league that would
finally make spring football work. With big money backing them from WWE's Vince
McMahon and veteran leadership from commissioner Oliver Luck, signs pointed to
success. Then after just five weeks of play, the coronavirus forced the XFL and
sports leagues everywhere to press pause. While other major sports are either on
their way to resuming play or fighting out the details, the XFL decided to
shutter its doors for good. What went wrong? ESPN's Kevin Seifert gives a
behind-the-scenes look account of the XFL's downfall, and discusses whether it
could have been saved.
Jun. 15: NBA Players Debate the Bubble
With approval from the players union, the NBA's plan for a 22-team restart in
Orlando seemed like it was all systems go. Then, a group call surfaced deeper
concerns from many players about health and safety protocol, and who would (or
wouldn't) face restrictions on life in the Orlando "bubble." That conversation
included discussion that a return to play would stall the momentum around the
anti-racism movement that has accelerated since the killing of George Floyd.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst breaks down what's happened along the path to
basketball's comeback. We start the with the player side, then detail what we
know about the NBA's plans for virus testing, logistics and other realities --
if a late July start stays on track.
Jun. 12: Long Gone Summer: Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's 1998 Home Run Chase
It's been 22 years since the summer that changed baseball forever. After the
strike of '94 threatened to turn off an entire generation to the game, the tape
measure theatrics of McGwire and Sosa made fans fall in love with the national
pastime again. The latest 30 for 30, "Long Gone Summer," which premieres this
Sunday, chronicles the 1998 chase between the two dueling sluggers...and their
very different approaches to making history. Buster Olney reflects on what that
summer meant for baseball, and how its perception has changed over the years as
baseball's steroids problem came to light.
Jun. 11: Inside UFC's "Bubble" and Fight Island
Fight Island. It's happening. UFC President Dana White first brought it up as a
live event solution for the pandemic, and everyone's been curious. Where is this
island? How will the fights work? This week, White announced that Fight Island
debuts on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi this July. ESPN's Ariel Helwani explains just
how it's going to work, and why it's worth it. Plus, how UFC got back up and
running so much faster than other live sports, and the issues fighters are
facing upon returning. Then, Ryan McGee on the significance of NASCAR's new
Confederate flag ban.
Jun. 10: College Athletes Are Refusing to Stay Silent
Over the past two weeks, America has seen countless professional athletes speak
out about racial inequality and police brutality. But increasingly, it's not
just the pros who are making their voices heard. College players are becoming
more and more vocal about issues of injustice within their own programs, and
across campuses as well. Former Missouri safety Ian Simon was a pioneer in many
ways to the current movement: he explains how he and his football teammates
helped to create change in leadership at Mizzou when they threatened to boycott
and not take the field. Then, ESPN's David Hale discusses why college football
players are responding in ways we've never seen before.
Jun. 9: Goodell's Apology, Colin Kaepernick, and the Shifting Perception of NFL
Protests
On Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized for not listening to
players' concerns about police brutality and systemic racism, as well as their
right to protest these issues. Unmentioned during Goodell's apology was Colin
Kaepernick, the former 49ers QB whose protests during the national anthem in
2016 brought attention to issues of racial injustice...but also created a
backlash from those who believes he was disrespecting the flag and the military.
Kaepernick has remained unsigned since the 2016 season, leading many to believe
he has been effectively exiled from the league. Flash forward to 2020: protests
around the world echo Kaepernick's message...and now many NFL players want their
voices heard. Could we see players kneel during the anthem this season? And will
they meet a different reaction than Kaepernick did? ESPN's Domonique Foxworth
reflects on the new balance of power between players, owners, and executives.
Then, The Undefeated's Jerry Bembry discusses George Floyd's time as a high
school two-sport athlete in Houston, and his athletic impact on the community.
Jun. 8: Which NBA Teams Will Succeed in the Return-To-Play Format?
The NBA is finally set to return in July, and players and owners have agreed on
a format for the comeback. But which teams actually stand to benefit from the
standings, what's the fate of those facing play-in games, and where does the
draft lottery come into play? ESPN basketball insider Zach Lowe (and host of
"The Lowe Post" podcast) explains what's at stake in the East and West. Plus,
which bubble teams could make it in, and whether this year's NBA champion
deserves an asterisk due to the weirdness of the season.
Jun. 5: Athletes, Anger and Activism: How George Floyd Has Changed Sports
The death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer has
spurred an outpouring of grief and anger across the sports world...and incited a
conversation about race, power and privilege. Comments made by Drew Brees and
others have been met with backlash from athletes, and the players everywhere are
demanding their voices be heard. Bomani Jones joins the show to discuss a week
in sports that felt historic, even if few games were actually played. Then, ESPN
basketball reporter and Minneapolis native Myron Medcalf reflects on the
devastation in his hometown.
Jun. 4: The MLB Hall of Famer Who Shepherds Families Through Grief
Major League Baseball superstar Andre Dawson was known as "The Hawk" in a
stellar 21-season career with the Expos, Cubs and more. But, Dawson didn't know
what life after pro ball would look like. Today, the Hall of Famer - who brought
legions of fans to their feet in his day - owns and operates a funeral home in
Florida. It's an unexpected turn for a famous athlete, but get to know him - as
ESPN's Peter Keating did - and you see how Dawson's unflagging spirit on the
field translates to a life shepherding families through grief. Keating tells us
about Dawson's work, including what it's like to bury members of his community
amid the pandemic.
Jun. 3: Dak Prescott's Future With the Cowboys
By many measures, quarterback Dak Prescott holds the keys for the Dallas
Cowboys' success in the 2020 season. As of right now, he still doesn't have a
contract extension. ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell calls the situation between
Prescott and his team the "highest-stakes game of chicken in NFL history." He
joins Mina Kimes to explain why Prescott has been a salary bargain compared to
peers like Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, and what it'll take for the Cowboys to
get a deal done. Then, NFL linebacker Brandon Marshall discusses why he
protested police violence and racial inequality alongside Colin Kaepernick in
2016, and what's changed since then.
Jun. 2: MLB's Next Steps and Minor League Crisis
In recent days, the prospects for Major League Baseball's return in 2020 had
looked increasingly shaky. MLB's plan to return to baseball was rejected by the
players, and MLBPA's counter-proposal was met with equal skepticism by the
owners. But yesterday, there appeared to be at least some reason for hope, as
sources say MLB is willing to pay players their full prorated salaries...if the
players agree to a much shorter schedule. ESPN's Jeff Passan weighs in on the
latest in the negotiations, and tells us whether the players are likely to buy
in to playing baseball for what could be just a 50-game regular season. Then,
Jeff talks about the fate of the minor leagues, as hundreds of players have lost
their jobs ahead of a potentially canceled season.
Jun. 1: A Minnesota Head Coach Listens on Race
Protests that began in the Twin Cities over the killing of George Floyd continue
to spread and intensify across the United States and beyond. We're joined by
Ryan Saunders, head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 34-year-old
Minnesota native grew up in the world of basketball, as son of the late
Minnesota college and NBA coach Flip Saunders. The young coach has made public
statements in recent days about the need for white sports figures, like himself,
to speak out in support of black colleagues and communities of color. He shares
what he's learned as he's listened to his team's thoughts and experiences on
race, violence and policing, as well as the work that lies ahead.
May 29: Imperfect: The Roy Halladay Story
Former Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay made
baseball history in 2010, pitching the 20th perfect game in MLB history. But
behind his on-field success, Halladay struggled with addiction, depression and
anxiety before his fatal plane crash in 2017. Ahead of tonight's E:60 on
Halladay, "Imperfect: The Roy Halladay Story," ESPN's John Barr discusses his
months of in-depth reporting for the piece, time spent with Halladay's family,
and the gap between public perception of the pitcher and his private struggles.
May 28: Josh Allen and the Bills: AFC East Favorites?!
The Buffalo Bills have long stood in the looming shadow of their AFC East
rivals, the New England Patriots. But now, with Tom Brady departed for Tampa
Bay, the division is up for grabs for the first time in nearly a decade. For the
Bills, it all comes down to third year quarterback Josh Allen, who's earned his
fair share of admirers and skeptics in an up-and-down career thus far. ESPN
Bills reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques assesses Allen's strength and weaknesses,
and explains how Allen's improvements could mean this is the season Bills fans
have been dreaming of.
May 27: NBA: The Latest on a Restart
The NBA, team general mangers and the league's players seem close to agreement
on a plan to restart the 2019-20 season. GMs have met virtually and filled out a
survey on different options and formats for basketball's comeback. Players have
been in lengthy calls with each other and their union leader, who says a vote
won't be necessary. NBA insider Ramona Shelburne brings us the latest on the
NBA's potential comeback scenario, how an Orlando-based plan came together, and
which teams could benefit most from this version of a restart.
May 26: Murder-for-Hire, an Unmarked Grave, and the Boxing Coach Who Faked His
Own Death
Ramon Sosa was a beloved boxing coach based in Houston. He ran a gym with his
wife and served as a mentor to many young fighters. So how did he end up in the
middle of nowhere, lying at the bottom of an unmarked grave, and live to tell
the tale? ESPN's Tisha Thompson shares a wild story of murder-for-hire, secret
recordings and the staged death that uncovered it all.
May 25: LANCE: What the New Film Reveals About Armstrong
A 7-time Tour de France champion and cancer survivor advocate, Lance Armstrong's
fame skyrocketed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Then, it plummeted when he
admitted to doping and to lying about it. In the new 30 for 30 film "LANCE,"
director Marina Zenovich explores Armstrong's own story of what happened,
alongside accounts from teammates, journalists and those close to him. Zenovich
tells Mina Kimes what it was like to conduct hours of interviews with Armstrong,
and how the film aims for new territory around his very public rise and fall.
May 22: Scott Van Pelt on Tiger/Peyton vs. Phil/Tom
Champions collide this weekend as golf legend Tiger Woods and Super Bowl MVP
Peyton Manning tee off against golf legend Phil Mickelson and...Super Bowl MVP
Tom Brady. ESPN's own golf expert Scott Van Pelt breaks down "The Match:
Champions for Charity," which will raise over $10 million for coronavirus relief
efforts. Van Pelt discusses how he believes The Match's competitors will fare,
as well as the PGA's plans to bring golf back soon. Then, Mina chats with 2020
Madden Bowl winner Raidel "Joke" Brito on how his no-passing strategy paid off.
May 21: 2020 NFL Offseason Winners and Losers
Pretty much all of the big moves are in the books for the NFL offseason. Brady
and Gronk now call Tampa Bay home. DeAndre Hopkins' trade to the Arizona
Cardinals continues to baffle fans and experts. Teams like Carolina and
Jacksonville seem to be starting their rebuilds. ESPN's NFL guru Bill Barnwell
ranks all NFL teams by which ones made the most of this offseason, and which
ones' moves left fans scratching their heads.
May 20: Falcons TE Hayden Hurst Opens up About Depression and Attempted Suicide
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst played competitive sports for his entire
life. But in January 2016, after a season of college football, he tried to take
his own life. Since getting professional help and support, he's been open about
his struggles with anxiety and depression, and stays active in decreasing the
stigma surrounding mental health issues. Hurst joins the show to discuss his
demons and how he's committed to helping others, as part of Mental Health
Awareness Month.
May 19: Paul Finebaum on College Football's Road to Return
College football has a different path to return than pro sports. It's hard to
say where hundreds of academic institutions with thousands of players will be in
a few weeks, much less by autumn. The NCAA isn't like, say, the NFL or MLB in
terms of its power or say-so over college sports. Paul Finebaum joins the show
to discuss the many obstacles, options and high stakes for this college football
season. Would players return, even if the general student body isn't back on
campus? Would some conferences start, even if other teams remain under "safer at
home" orders? What's the financial risk of a short season, or none at all? Then,
European soccer correspondent Gab Marcotti weighs in on the return of Germany's
Bundesliga.
May 18: Where Michael Jordan's Coming From
Michael Jordan's legendary drive and relentless work ethic inspired conversation
throughout all ten episodes of "The Last Dance." But how, when and where was MJ
molded into His Airness? Wright Thompson, who's spent time with Jordan and wrote
a definitive profile for ESPN, recently looked for answers in Michael's family
history, in the history of his hometown of Wilmington, NC, to find how those
roots have informed his path to greatness.
Check out ESPN Daily's full "The Last Dance" Jordan Collection here:
bit.ly/DailyLastDance
May 15: Jalen Rose on Jordan's Last Dance
1998's NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana
Pacers took the Bulls to their first Game 7 since 1992. Former Pacers player
Jalen Rose recalls what it was like to play against Michael Jordan at the
twilight of his career, and why Rose considers MJ to be the G.O.A.T. Then, Dave
Fleming tells the story of what might be the most devastating trash talk one
liner in NBA history, courtesy of Scottie Pippen.
May 14: UFC's Walt Harris and His Quest for Justice
UFC heavyweight contender Walt Harris faces Alistair Overeem in the main event
of this weekend's UFC Fight Night. It's a fight that was originally supposed to
take place this past December, until Harris was forced to pull out of the fight
for the most difficult reason imaginable. Last year, Harris and his family were
gripped by tragedy: the disappearance and homicide of his stepdaughter, Aniah.
Tom Rinaldi discusses his in-depth reporting on Harris's career as a fighter,
and his recent quest for justice. Then, legal analyst Ryan Smith provides an
update on Zion Williamson's case, and explains why he's been asked to admit that
his family accepted gifts and money from Nike, Adidas, and Duke.
May 13: Can NASCAR's Restart Help It Turn a Corner?
As live sports tiptoe their way back, there's one revving up this weekend that
could uniquely benefit: NASCAR. This Sunday, Darlington, South Carolina plays
host to NASCAR's first actual-cars race since the shutdown began. Could this
11-race experiment be a cure for NASCAR's declining audience and ratings? It'll
be sans fans, with stripped-down crews, and broadcast live. ESPN's Ryan McGee
breaks down the challenges in this mid-pandemic return, and why NASCAR needs to
race back into live events more than just about anyone.
May 12: MLB's Plan to Save the 2020 Season
Baseball could be on its way back. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is ready to
present the players with an owner-approved proposal on how to play a partial
2020 season, with some additional stipulations. Jeff Passan explains how it's
all going to work, and gives an update on timing, revenue split, the use of home
stadiums, and more logistics. Then, Passan chats with Minnesota Twins star OF
Nelson Cruz on how he's been waiting out the pandemic.
May 11: Would Michael Jordan Rule in Today's NBA?
"Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time." It's a common sentiment,
especially as "The Last Dance" docuseries gives a new showcase for MJ's
dominance. But the naysayers remain. "Well, that was the 90s," you might hear,
"and the league has changed." ESPN basketball analyst and writer Kirk Goldsberry
(admittedly in the Jordan G.O.A.T. camp) brings big data to the argument. He
details how Jordan would stack up on shooting, defense, and other aspects of
today's game. And he argues that while today's stars (LeBron?) have amazing
talent, Jordan basically invented the modern NBA.
May 8: Michael Jordan's Brief, Strange Life in Baseball
In the midst of becoming the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael
Jordan retired from the NBA and set his sights on baseball. The reason? To pay
homage to his recently slain father. Jordan training with the White Sox and
joining the minor leagues created major media buzz, as ball players and fans
criticized the move. ESPN senior writer Steve Wulf was with Sports Illustrated
at the time, and his 1994 coverage of Jordan's foray into baseball made news of
its own, as it angered MJ himself. Wulf tells us about Michael's efforts to
succeed with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and how Jordan may have been closer
than we know to being called up to bigs, had he not returned to basketball.
May 7: The Patriots' Quarterback Question
With Tom Brady leaving the Patriots for the Buccaneers, a void has been left in
New England at quarterback. Both free agency and the NFL Draft came and went
without the Patriots adding another QB option, making it appear that head coach
Bill Belichick is leaving the team's offense in the hands of last year's backup,
Jarrett Stidham...who's completed just two passes in his short NFL career.
Patriots reporter Mike Reiss revisits the situation surrounding Brady's
departure and explains why the Pats think Stidham is their man.
May 6: A New Path to the NBA: Woj on the G League's Program
Top basketball prospects have followed the same path for years: high school, one
year of college, and then the NBA. But now, the NBA is disrupting the
traditional one-and-done model. Today, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski tells us about
a new option for players: the NBA G League Professional Pathway Program, and
examines why the NBA launched it in the middle of a pandemic. Woj weighs the
pros and cons of the program for elite NBA talent, and explains how its success
might be determined by high profile entrants like top 2020 prospect Jalen Green.
May 5: The Secret History of the Korean Bat Flip
Baseball is back! Well...in South Korea, where the KBO has started its season,
with games broadcast live on ESPN. No fans are in attendance, but Korean
baseball energy is very much about the audience, performance and celebration.
That includes big-time bat flips. Our own Mina Kimes got to the bottom of how a
taboo in MLB became a signature of KBO play. In a switcheroo, Pablo Torre asks
Mina about her travels to Korea to investigate how bat flipping became part of
their game, tied to the bigger history of the sport abroad.
May 4: Michael Jordan, Race and Activism: "Republicans Buy Sneakers, Too"
"Republicans buy sneakers too." It's considered by many as Michael Jordan's most
infamous quote, a jab that showed how his commercial interests stacked up
against politics or social and racial justice. Episode 5 of "The Last Dance"
docuseries focuses on Jordan's history and legacy around these issues, with MJ
confirming he did indeed say those cutting words. Jesse Washington wrote about
the origins and ripple effects of Jordan's comments for The Undefeated, and
today he shares his reporting. Plus, Justin Tinsley shares a personal story of
watching Jordan's last championship, and the end of a family era.
May 1: Alex Smith on His Life Threatening Injury
It was one of the most gruesome injuries in NFL history. On November 18, 2018,
Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith suffered a compound fracture to his
right leg, which became dangerously infected. The injury would threaten to cost
Smith his leg, and potentially, even his life. Ahead of tonight's E:60 episode,
"Project 11," which documents Smith's ordeal, the former No. 1 overall pick
reflects on the injury, his recovery, and his desire to return to football. In
addition, ESPN reporter Stephania Bell analyzes how Smiths injury turned life
threatening.
Apr. 30: New Norm; Ricky Williams and Marijuana Policy in Sports
Marijuana use by athletes used to be considered taboo, and punishments for
violating drug policies were severe. But now, as laws and attitudes around the
country change, leagues are adjusting their rules. Former NFL RB Ricky Williams
recounts how his marijuana use once dominated football headlines, and assesses
the NFL's changes to the league's policy in the new CBA. Then, ESPN's Emily
Kaplan breaks down the marijuana policy reforms across pro sports.
Apr. 29: The Mystery of Baseball Star Don Mattingly's Birthday
Collecting baseball cards is a cherished pastime. ESPN baseball writer Sam
Miller first got hooked on the game by studying the backs of cards growing up.
And when he learned about a Don Mattingly card with a curious factoid on
Mattingly's alleged birth year, Miller began a quest to uncover the truth. When
was the former Yankees star first baseman born? And did this one baseball card
have the inside scoop, or a crucial error? Miller tells us how he solved the
mystery of Mattingly's real birth date.
Apr. 28: Is the Clock Ticking on Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay?
When the Green Bay Packers selected Utah State QB Jordan Love late in the first
round of this year's NFL Draft, the pick sent shockwaves throughout the league.
The Packers current signal caller, Aaron Rodgers, is under contract for several
years, and is destined for enshrinement in Canton. But that's not unusual in
Green Bay. When Rodgers was drafted in 2005, the Packers already had the
legendary Brett Favre at the helm. Is history doomed to repeat itself? ESPN
Packers reporter Rob Demovsky examines why the Love pick was so surprising, and
what it means for Green Bay's future.
Apr. 27: Inside Dennis Rodman's Wild 90s
Dennis Rodman. Loved and hated by basketball and pop culture fans alike, he's
known for his off-court antics perhaps more than his success with the Chicago
Bulls. ESPN's Tim Keown got a super up-close view when he helped write Rodman's
1996 autobiography, "Bad as I Wanna Be." As the Rodman-focused installment of
the docuseries "The Last Dance" debuts, Keown tells the story of his weeks
living with Rodman, and what he learned.
Apr. 24: NFL Draft Round One Reveals
Round one of the 2020 NFL Draft is in the books! The virtual draft made us
extremely familiar with Commissioner Roger Goodell's basement, and quarterbacks
like Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa have found new homes in Cincinnati and Miami,
respectively. Mike Golic Jr. reacts to all of the standout moments from the
first night.
Apr. 23: NFL Draft Day Drama
The NFL Draft is finally here! Tonight, all of the big questions will be
answered. Questions like, how is this online format going to work? Even if there
are no hackers, how will teams make decisions remotely, with no war room? What
will the draft board possibly look like at the end of round one? ESPN's Field
Yates breaks down draft strategies and potential complications. Plus, he
previews some big names he expects to be picked in the first round.
Apr. 22: Tiger King: Joe Burrow's Journey to the Bengals
"With the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...Joe
Burrow, quarterback, LSU." It's a sentence we'll most likely hear this Thursday
night. What kind of pressure -- and team -- is Cincy about to thrust upon the
Heisman Trophy-winning star? ESPN's Ben Baby digs deep into Burrow's football
story to find out. Plus, he sets the scene in Ohio, where a long history of
disappointment has left Bengals fans hungry for success.
Apr. 21: Jerry Jeudy's Road to the NFL Draft
Poised to be the No. 1 wide receiver picked in this year's NFL Draft, Alabama's
Jerry Jeudy is sought after for his speed and explosiveness. He has also endured
family tragedy alongside football success. Following the loss of his 7-year-old
sister, Jeudy became a college star, and is now preparing to enter the NFL.
Ahead of Thursday's first round, ESPN's Liz Merrill shares Jeudy's story.
Apr. 20: ESPN Daily's 2020 NFL Draft Preview
With live competitions mostly canceled, the 2020 NFL Draft is not only happening
this Thursday, but it's rallying the sports world in an even bigger way than
usual. We'll find out where prospects like QBs Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and
Jordan Love will land, and we'll see a whole new approach as draft prospects
work from home like so many of us. ESPN analyst (and pumpkin-pie-for-breakfast
lover) Mel Kiper Jr. has covered the draft for decades. He breaks down this
year's draft class, explains which teams could actually benefit from a remote
draft, and how it could all go down.
Apr. 17: Michael Wilbon on Michael Jordan and "The Last Dance"
ESPN's Michael Wilbon covered Michael Jordan for much of the legendary player's
career. As a Chicago fan and native, Wilbon is anticipating this Sunday's
premiere of the 10-part Jordan documentary, "The Last Dance," more than just
about anybody. The series zooms in on the iconic 1997-98 Chicago Bulls and the
quest for another championship, even as key relationships falter. It also
chronicles Jordan's rise to greatness and unassailable legacy. Wilbon shares his
personal memories of MJ, what the docuseries means to him, and how he sees
Jordan's career in its totality.
Apr. 16: Sabrina Ionescu on Her Next Move
Basketball superstar Sabrina Ionescu joins Mina Kimes to reflect on her
history-making career at Oregon, her run at a college championship cut short,
and how joining the WNBA will be unlike anything she's experienced. In Friday's
WNBA Draft, a bright spot amid the live sports shutdown, Ionescu is the top
prospect and is expected to join the New York Liberty. Hear how she's preparing
for her pro career and training during this time. Plus, a look at the biggest
stories in the draft overall, and what the season - whenever it starts - might
hold.
Apr. 15: The Day Baseball Stood Still for Clayton Kershaw
ESPN's Wright Thompson was set to profile Clayton Kershaw ahead of the 2020
season, with a focus on Kershaw and the Dodgers recovering from their 2019
postseason collapse. They spent the day together just as spring training got
shut down, and Thompson witnessed firsthand as Kershaw reacted to the news that
MLB would delay its season. Thompson tells the story of Kershaw's fate in
baseball through the lens of what this stalled time means for his life and
legacy.
Apr. 14: Gambling on Sports When Sports Are Shut Down
Ukrainian table tennis. League of Legends. Madden computer simulations. These
were not the options you were expecting to see on your gambling apps come
springtime. But since all major sports were shut down in mid-March, sportsbooks
in the U.S. and offshore are seeing a wide array of unconventional betting lines
serve their starved clientele. "Daily Wager" host Doug Kezirian joins the show
to tell us about the stranger sports gambling options being offered, as well as
the heightened interest in the NFL Draft, and the impact of a live sports hiatus
on the industry as a whole.
Apr. 13: Michael and Bruce Buffer: How the Most Famous Voices in Fighting Found
Each Other
You've probably heard boxing announcer Michael Buffer's rumbling catchphrase at
every major boxing match. And if you haven't heard announcer Bruce Buffer's
signature UFC fight night line, well...it's time. But you might not have heard
how the most famous voices in fighting found out they were brothers, much later
in life. Devin Gordon joins the show to trace the careers of both Michael and
Bruce, how they met, and the story of the successful business they built
together.
Apr 10: Vinsanity: Is This How Vince Carter's Epic Career Ends?
The suspension of the 2019-2020 NBA season not only means no games for the time
being, but also potentially the end of the longest career in league history.
Vince Carter was in the midst of his 22nd, and final, season. ESPN Columnist and
NBA Analyst Jackie MacMullan joins us to take us through 22 seasons of
"Vinsanity."
Apr. 9: Finding Darko Milicic: Life After His NBA Bust
Darko Milicic was the second pick in the 2003 NBA Draft...and maybe the biggest
bust in basketball history. After leaving the pros in 2012, Darko started a new
life in Serbia that's almost completely free from basketball. ESPN's Sam Borden
joins the show to tell the story of Darko's transformation from legendary bust
and party guy to apple orchard-owning family man.
Apr. 8: What's Not to Love? Sizing Up Utah State QB Jordan Love
Jordan Love is one of the most divisive QBs entering this year's NFL Draft. He's
known for his deep passes on the run...as well as his numerous interceptions.
Fans and critics alike are curious to see if Love will live up to his potential,
or if his flaws as a player will prove too big to ignore. ESPN's Tim Keown joins
the show to explore Love's football prowess, as well as his complicated past.
Apr. 7: MLB Has Plan to Play in May & Lessons from Korean Baseball
Sources tell ESPN Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan that Major League Baseball has
a plan to resume in May, gathering all teams and isolating them in Arizona to
minimize coronavirus risk. Hear the story of how that might work, and who's on
board. Then, a firsthand look at how baseball has returned to South Korea.
Scrimmages there are leading up to preseason games slated for later this month.
Jeff Passan talks to pitcher Dan Straily, formerly of MLB, now of the Korean
Baseball Organization's Lotte Giants, to detail the precautions his team is
taking to keep their season on track amidst the pandemic.
Apr. 6: 2020 NCAA Championships: If Only
What if champions of men's and women's college basketball were somehow able to
be crowned in 2020? The NCAA canceled both tournaments due to COVID-19. If you
can't help but wonder what "might" have happened, we have you covered.
FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine shares results from the data-crunching site's
highly precise tournament simulations. And ESPN's Myron Medcalf gets to dream
about who should hold the title from the men's and women's brackets this year.
Apr. 3: The Show Must Go On: Wrestlemania Is Still Happening
No sports during quarantine? WWE begs to differ. It's broadcasting Wrestlemania
36 this weekend -- after recording it on a restricted set -- with no audience.
How did WWE pull this off, and why does Wrestlemania seem to be such a
touchstone in this moment? ESPN's Greg Wyshynski steps out of the crease and
into the ring to talk about how and why WWE is carrying on through the crisis.
Apr. 2: Big Lessons of NFL Offseason
Tom Brady is a Buccaneer. DeAndre Hopkins is a Cardinal. And Cam Newton is still
looking for a new home. NFL free agency in 2020 has been a wild ride so far, all
while the uncertainty of this sports hiatus plays out in the background. ESPN
NFL Insider Bill Barnwell joins the show to discuss how the coronavirus pandemic
has affected team decisions in the offseason, and the successes and failures in
team deals so far.
Apr. 1: ESPN Daily - The Essentials: The Fire That Saved the Packers
The Green Bay Packers are seen as one of the NFL's most traditional franchises.
Their midwestern, mom-and-pop approach to running the team sets them apart in
today's cynical times. But did that reputation rise from the ashes of arson?
Today, ESPN Senior Writer Dave Fleming tells a tale of a mysterious blaze that
helped the Packers survive potential extinction.
Mar. 31: UFC Champion Jon Jones Faces His Demons
He's been called the best fighter of all time, but UFC champion Jon Jones is in
trouble again. Arrested on charges of drunk driving and negligent use of a
firearm, the light heavyweight is far from the media-friendly image many hoped
he'd bring to UFC. ESPN's Ariel Helwani dives deep on Jones' career,
controversies and how good he could be for mixed martial arts if he'd stay out
of his own way.
Mar. 30: What Trevor Bauer Really Thinks About MLB
We should be in the first week of baseball season, but...try not to think about
that. Instead, ponder the future with Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer and
ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan. On the heels of MLB's hiatus deal with
players around pay, service time and other issues, hear how it sets up the 2021
collective bargaining agreement. Plus, Bauer gets into the issues with training
during all this uncertainty, whether baseball is too slow, and the sport's need
for a media makeover.
Mar. 27: Rex Chapman: The Content We're Here For
You might know Rex Chapman as a social media star, the guy who shares "Block or
Charge" memes with his 600,000 followers. He's also THAT Rex Chapman, a college
basketball superstar for Kentucky and NBA great. And he's yet another Rex
Chapman, one who's struggled with addiction and gambling behind the scenes.
ESPN's Ryan McGee got to know the many sides of Chapman in an extended profile
for E:60, and traces his journey in sports, media and life.
Mar. 26: Was the "Battle of the Sexes" a Racket?
The "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs
is one of the most iconic moments in American sports history. Set against the
backdrop of the women's liberation movement, King's 1973 victory over Riggs
transcended sports. But a news tip from an unexpected source, 40 years later,
sent ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. down a path that led him to investigate whether
the match was rigged. Van Natta details his reporting on the lead-up to The
Battle of the Sexes, and how Riggs' own agenda may have impacted the historic
outcome.
Mar. 25: Can Esports Seize the Moment?
While pro sports leagues remain on hold, esports (aka competitive video gaming)
faces some similar obstacles. Leagues have canceled live events, team practice
and more. But esports has also managed a pivot. It's put global operations and
matches entirely online for players, leagues and millions of fans worldwide.
While esports has struggled to break through to the more mainstream sports
audience, this could be a moment of growth for the industry. ESPN's Tyler
Erzberger explains how esports has responded to the pandemic, and how it might
seize an opportunity with pro athletes, celebrities and fans stuck inside.
Mar. 24: Pro Basketball's Return in China
While most of the sports world remains on hiatus, China could restart live
basketball in a matter of weeks. What would allow that to happen safely? And
what will it take to bring pro sports back across the rest of the world? ESPN's
Jonathan Givony joins the show to explain the timeline, stakes, and challenges
that basketball faces, and how it's all being handled in leagues overseas. Plus,
how the coronavirus will impact the upcoming NBA Draft.
Mar. 23: The Running Back's Struggle
We just saw 2017 Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley released by the LA
Rams, and former Chargers star running back Melvin Gordon found a new home in
Denver. Behind that shakeup is growing evidence that the role of running backs
in the NFL is changing. A renewed focus on pass-heavy offenses, among other
factors, is shifting the weight given to the position. FiveThirtyEight's Josh
Hermsmeyer outlines the current landscape for running backs, from all angles.
Mar. 20: The Italian Scout: Baseball and the Center of the Pandemic
Major League Baseball's season went on indefinite hiatus last week in response
to the coronavirus pandemic. In parts of the world beyond the US, that chaos had
already brought life and work to a halt. ESPN's Jeff Passan brings us the story
of René Saggiadi, a Red Sox scout based in the Italian city of Bari. As his
country deals with increasing contagion, we hear what happens when life and
baseball pause, and how he's staying connected to the sport he loves.
Mar. 19: Inside the US Soccer Equal Pay Fight
A two-time World Cup and Olympic soccer champion, US team alumna Julie Foudy
gives a candid inside look at the battle over fair pay for female players. US
Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro just resigned amidst controversy
over sexist language in USSF's legal filings. Since filing that suit in March
2019, the USWNT won its fourth FIFA World Cup and continued its streak of global
dominance. Foudy details what it's taken to move the case forward, while the
team continues to play at a top level.
Mar. 18: Tom vs. Team: Why Brady is Moving On
Tom Brady's early morning announcement that he's leaving New England echoed
around the league all day Tuesday. But his breakup with the Patriots was a long
time coming and when you look closely, the signs were there. ESPN Senior Writer
Seth Wickersham shares the winding, tension-laden tale of Brady's departure, and
sizes up what's next for Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
Mar. 17: NFL Free Agency Fireworks
(Note: we published our show today before Tom Brady announced he's leaving the
Patriots. More to come on that!)
NFL free agency has kicked off with a bang, with the biggest deal so far sending
Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals in return for RB David Johnson. Teams
across the league have been using franchise tags on players, signing free agents
and conducting trades throughout the past few days, getting even more attention
than usual as most sports are suspended. ESPN's Bill Barnwell tracks the most
dramatic storylines.
Mar. 16: Future of Football: NFL Players Vote and 2020 Plans
While most sports are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL got some
certainty this week, with players voting to approve a new collective bargaining
agreement. NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith talks about the major points
of the new deal. Then, ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano discusses how the league is
responding to risks of COVID-19, and how the upcoming football schedule could
change.
Mar. 13: Sports on Hiatus: The Economic Fallout
March Madness has been canceled. The NBA, NHL, and MLB seasons are currently on
hold. The entire sports world has essentially ground to a halt, in an effort to
slow the spread of the coronavirus. And while leagues, players, coaches, and
fans will all be affected by the hiatus, so will thousands of behind the scenes
workers who are critical to the sports industry. Adelaide Avila is a cashier at
the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings play,
and joins the show to discuss how the lack of games will impact her. Then,
sports economist Patrick Rishe explains just how far reaching the damage from
the coronavirus will be to the wider sports world.
Mar. 12: Sports and COVID-19: NBA Suspends Season, What Happens Next?
The NBA shocked the sports world Wednesday night, announcing the season would be
suspended due to a player's positive test for coronavirus. ESPN's Tisha Thompson
joins to discuss how the NBA reached that decision, and if other leagues will
follow suit.
Mar. 11: Dodgers 2020: World Series or Bust
The Los Angeles Dodgers need a championship in 2020. Nothing less will do. Even
Mookie Betts says so, and with his arrival in L.A. the roster is more formidable
than ever. After losing two World Series to the Red Sox and Astros - both teams
embroiled in MLB's sign stealing scandal - and a string of appearances in the
playoffs, the stakes have never felt higher. As the world watches to see if
they'll finally bring home a title, ESPN's Jeff Passan sets the stage for this
fired-up Dodgers team, and what could possibly stop them.
Mar. 10: UNC's Lost Season
The UNC Tar Heels are perennial men's college basketball contenders. But this
season, they've hit snags, including a few long losing streaks which have
currently positioned the team as the lowest seed in the ACC tournament. After a
season full of missed opportunities and failing to meet expectations, ESPN's
Jeff Borzello joins the show to break down what's gone wrong in Chapel Hill and
where it goes from here.
Mar. 9: Bye Bye, Brady? 2020 Options for New England's Star QB
Since the Patriots got eliminated in the first round of this year's NFL
playoffs, Tom Brady's future with the team has been a constant, looming
question. Will he return to New England, where he's won six Super Bowls? Or will
he head for a new destination like San Francisco or Las Vegas? ESPN's Bill
Barnwell joins the show to break down the possibilities and their implications
for Brady and the Patriots organization.
Mar. 6: Is Zion Living Up to the Hype for the Pelicans?
Rookie Zion Williamson's return to the court came with a lot of excitement and
hype. Bouncing back from injury, the Pelicans forward continues to show he can
be an NBA star. But he and his team have a long way to go, as New Orleans sits
at 12th in the Western Conference. Guest host Jason Fitz is joined by ESPN's
Andrew Lopez to discuss Zion's impact so far and his future trajectory.
Mar. 5: Sho Time: Angels' Shohei Ohtani Returns to Form
Shohei Ohtani is one of the Angels' biggest stars, who, at the peak of his game,
excels as both a pitcher and batter. Last season, Ohtani was only able to
contribute at the plate, as his recovery from Tommy John surgery kept him off
the mound. Will the 2020 season see Ohtani participate in both phases of the
game, and why is that so unique in MLB? ESPN's Alden Gonzalez traces Ohtani's
career and explains what makes him an exceptional talent.
Mar. 4: How Coronavirus Could Change the 2020 Olympics
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has touched nearly every continent and industry since
it broke out in China in December. Major sporting events have been canceled or
rescheduled. Teams are playing matches to empty arenas, as officials aim to slow
the spread of the disease. Japan is one of the leading countries infected, with
big questions now swirling around the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. Could the
Olympics be postponed, or even canceled? ESPN's Kelly Cohen walks us through
what's known and what's not, from the International Olympic Committee and other
sources.
Mar. 3: Is Jayson Tatum Boston's Next Superstar?
Celtics power forward Jayson Tatum seems to be on track for NBA stardom this
season, putting together a string of dominant performances. But, after a slow
start in the league, can his explosive skills sustain? ESPN's Jackie MacMullan
explains how and why Tatum has taken off.
Mar 2: Is Duke Done? A Season of NCAA Basketball Surprises
Men's college basketball is in a state of flux this season, with regular
powerhouses like Duke suffering upsets and falling in the rankings, and names
like Dayton and San Diego State showing up as contenders. Just a few weeks away
from Selection Sunday, ESPN senior college basketball reporter Myron Medcalf
breaks down the biggest stories and surprises in men's college basketball.
Feb 28: Pascal Siakam: The Raptors' New King of the North
After the Raptors lost superstar Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers this off-season,
the outlook for the reigning NBA champs was bleak. But fueled by the surprising
performance of power forward Pascal Siakam, the Raptors currently sit at second
place in the east. ESPN's Tim Bontemps explains how Siakam and the Raptors have
managed to shrug off the loss of Kawhi and become unexpected contenders heading
into the playoffs.
Feb 27: NFL and Players Negotiate: What's at Stake
The NFL owners have drafted a new labor agreement for players that adds a 17th
game to the NFL season, expands the playoffs and raises player pay and other
benefits. NFL Players Association representatives have now sent the CBA for a
majority vote to all the union members. ESPN analyst and former NFLPA negotiator
Domonique Foxworth joins the show to explain what's at stake, who's for the
agreement and who's not, and what a 17th game means to both sides.
Feb 26: Manny Pacquiao's Next Fight
Boxing great Manny Pacquiao dominated the sport for years. Now, he's a senator
in the Philippines, his home country, and could be gearing up for a presidential
run there in 2022. So how did one of the most prolific boxers become a political
leader? ESPN's Tim Keown joins the show to share his reporting from the
Philippines and explain Pacquiao's rise.
Feb 25: The Myth of Quarterback Hand Size
The NFL combine is in full swing, and scouts are focused on all types of metrics
and measurements. Chief among them? Quarterback hand size. But how much do those
digits really matter to a quarterback's success? ESPN's Dave Fleming joins the
show for a hands-on discussion about this flawed measurement and its impact on
the upcoming draft.
Feb 24: Remembering Kobe and Gigi
Today, mourners gather at Staples Center in Los Angeles to honor Kobe and Gigi
Bryant. The Lakers legend, 41, died in a helicopter crash last month, along with
his 13-year-old daughter and seven others. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne covered Kobe
for almost all of his 20 years with the team. She shares what it's been like
inside the Lakers organization since his death, with stories from longtime
friends like general manager Rob Pelinka, and those more newly close to the
Bryants, like LeBron James.
Feb 21: Astros Scandal: MLB's Nightmare Continues
As baseball's latest scandal continues to unfold, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred
and others are coming under more fire. Criticism has grown around whether the
Houston Astros' players deserved more blame and punishment for the sign stealing
scheme, and how much it helped the team win the 2017 World Series. ESPN's Buster
Olney breaks down the latest developments, as 2019 champs the Nationals face the
Astros in a spring training game this weekend.
Feb 20: NBA Storylines Down the Stretch
The NBA enters the home stretch after the All-Star Game. The Bucks boast the
league's best record, and the Clippers are making moves to overtake the Lakers
in the west. As the race to the playoffs begins, what's at stake for the rest of
the year? Doris Burke breaks down some of the most intriguing storylines in
basketball.
Feb. 19: Sabrina Ionescu Wants to Win the Whole Damn Thing
University of Oregon senior guard Sabrina Ionescu is a generational college
basketball talent. She is the frontrunner for National Player of the Year, the
projected No. 1 pick in April's WNBA Draft, and last week, became just the
second player in NCAA basketball history - male or female - to record over 2,000
points and 1,000 assists. ESPN Senior Writer Liz Merrill joins us to discuss
Ionescu's run of triple-doubles, her relationship with Kobe Bryant, and her
ultimate quest to deliver the Ducks their first-ever NCAA women's basketball
championship.
Feb. 18: Tua Tagovailoa's Recovery Shakes Up the NFL Draft
Tua Tagovailoa came into the college football season with Alabama as "most
likely to be the next number one overall pick" in the NFL draft. Then came a
season-ending hip injury. With reports that his recovery is on track, Tua enters
the draft as a game-changing wild card. Ahead of this weekend's NFL combine,
ESPN's Todd McShay breaks down Tua's history and weighs where he'll end up in
April's draft.
Feb. 17: Myles Garrett: The Interview, Response, and Fallout
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett sat down with Mina Kimes for an
interview first broadcast on ESPN's "Outside the Lines." Speaking the day after
he had been reinstated by the NFL, following indefinite suspension, it was the
first time Garrett spoke publicly since his on-field altercation with Mason
Rudolph. In November, Garrett struck the Steelers QB in the head with Rudolph's
own helmet. Today, ESPN Daily offers an extended version of Garrett's interview.
Then, Adam Schefter discusses the response to Garrett's remarks from Mason
Rudolph, his coach Mike Tomlin, and the NFL.
Feb. 14: All-Star Bam Adebayo Heats Up Miami
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo is having a breakout season. And it's happening
quicker than most expected, just his third year in the NBA. ESPN's Zach Lowe
explains what makes the first-time All-Star a remarkable talent on the court,
and what's behind his incredible motivation off of it.
Feb. 13: Michael and Pele Bennett: Life of an NFL Family
NFL defensive end Michael Bennett has been to three pro bowls and he's a Super
Bowl champion. But after the wear and tear of 11 seasons in the league, the free
agent is undecided on whether he wants to play again. Bennett and his wife,
Pele, host the new podcast, "Mouthpeace." They join us to talk about how the
physical realities of Michael's career have affected them, and how they and
their daughters have navigated life in the NFL.
Feb. 12: How Baseball Chaos Will Impact 2020
As pitchers and catchers assemble for spring training, the MLB continues to see
fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal, from "Codebreaker"
revelations to new hires. ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan tells us how the
2020 baseball season will be affected, and also weighs in on other storylines
around the league.
Feb. 11: What's Next for Veteran QBs Brady, Brees, And Rivers?
Philip Rivers is officially ending his run with the Chargers and entering free
agency. Fellow veteran QBs Tom Brady and Drew Brees are considering their
options. The NFL quarterback market is filled with possibility, as the golden
era of pocket passers may be ending - and the era of mobile quarterbacks just
beginning. ESPN's Dan Graziano runs down the different destinies the elder
statesmen of the NFL might be headed for this offseason.
Feb. 10: Will Ovechkin Outscore Hockey's Great One?
The Capitals' Alex Ovechkin is close to joining an elite club in hockey, as just
the eighth player in NHL history to score 700 goals. Ovi's had his stumbles, but
he's on track to beat none other than Wayne Gretzky for the all-time scoring
record. ESPN's Greg Wyshynski tells Mina Kimes how Ovechkin's durability,
longevity, and high-scoring power have dazzled over time, and what it'll take
for him to best The Great One's legendary record of 894 goals.
Feb. 7: XFL: Can a New Football League Succeed?
As the XFL kicks off, this 2.0 incarnation hopes to stand in stark contrast to
the 2001 football league that failed. ESPN's Kevin Seifert dives into the
thinking behind the XFL. Before, it leaned on wacky theatrics. But the new
version aims for much more serious fans. Plus, the XFL Tampa Bay Vipers' Aaron
Murray breaks down the appeal of the league for players like him.
Feb. 6: Michael Vick: A Complex Path
After being named a captain in this year's Pro Bowl, Michael Vick faced a new
wave of criticism. Animal advocates and football fans alike point to Vick being
sent to federal prison for his involvement in dogfighting. Between Vick's
initial NFL run, his time served and his return to football following that
sentence, he has a complicated story. Ahead of tonight's "30 for 30"
documentary, ESPN's Bomani Jones explores the context of Vick's career, his
ongoing path to redemption and what his legacy will be.
Feb. 5: Ja Morant: More Than NBA Highlight Gold
Ja Morant is in the news for trading Twitter barbs as the NBA trade rumor mill
runs amok. A shoe-in for Rookie of the Year, he's a growing presence in the
league. And he's leading the surprisingly successful Memphis Grizzlies in a
promising rebuild. ESPN's Tim MacMahon tells us how Morant almost got overlooked
as a young player, and how his electrifying presence is lighting up Memphis.
Feb. 4: Talking Trades in the NBA
Ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, rumors swirl about some of basketball's
biggest names, causing fans and NBA Twitter to lose their minds. ESPN NBA senior
writer Zach Lowe breaks down the buyers, sellers, and targets as the February 6
deadline draws near.
Feb 3: Kansas City, Comeback Champions
The Chiefs are Super Bowl LIV champions! NFL insider Bill Barnwell joins Mina
Kimes to discuss how a pair of Damien Williams touchdowns and a fourth quarter
defensive stand contributed to Kansas City's comeback Super Bowl win.
Jan. 31: Liberty City: How One Miami Neighborhood Spawned Legions of NFL Players
Ahead of Super Bowl weekend, Mina Kimes takes you to the local Miami
neighborhood that has given rise to some of the most famous NFL players in
recent history: Chad Johnson, TY Hilton, Antonio Brown and Teddy Bridgewater,
just to name a few. Hometown heroes Bridgewater, Hilton and Johnson give their
insights into this Florida football hotbed.
Jan. 30: Super Bowl LIV Preview
With the Super Bowl looming, Mina Kimes and Domonique Foxworth are in South
Beach tackling important questions about Sunday's game: Will Patrick Mahomes and
the Chiefs offense pick apart the Niners stalwart defense? Can Jimmy Garoppolo
be trusted to lead San Francisco? And who will end up hoisting the Lombardi
Trophy? Find these answers and more in ESPN Daily's Super Bowl Preview.
Jan. 29: Low-Key Super Coach Andy Reid
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has been an NFL fixture for 20 years, and his
homespun personality has inspired countless stories. There's the iconic
punt-pass kick video from Andy's childhood, his legendary appetite, and the
obsessive journals and coaching binders he keeps. ESPN's Dave Fleming chronicled
legends of Big Red from around the league, and shares them with host Mina Kimes.
Jan. 28: Kyle Shanahan's Super Bowl Comeback
The 49ers' Kyle Shanahan is making his first Super Bowl appearance as a head
coach. But he's been to the big game before, as the Falcons offensive
coordinator when Atlanta infamously lost a 28-3 lead to a Patriots comeback.
ESPN's Seth Wickersham explains how Shanahan can shake the ghosts of his
football past.
Jan. 27: Kobe Bryant's Life and Legacy
Kobe Bryant's death shocked the world on Sunday. In the wake of the news, ESPN
NBA insider Ramona Shelburne traveled to the site of the tragic helicopter
crash, and to Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy. She joins Mina Kimes to reflect on
the life, career, and legacy of this five-time NBA champion.
Jan. 24: Shortest NBA Career, Ever
JamesOn Curry holds a dubious record: shortest NBA career, ever. Just 3.9
seconds. And he didn't even touch the ball. How did Curry go from legendary high
school superstar, to twists and turns and criminal setbacks, to his one shot on
the court for the L.A. Clippers? The tale of his remarkably brief career holds
bigger truths about life and basketball. ESPN basketball writer Royce Young
shares the fascinating story of JamesOn Curry with host Mina Kimes.
Jan. 23: The End of UConn's Dominance?
The UConn Huskies have long reigned supreme in women's college basketball. But
where they once seemed invincible, cracks have started to show. The Huskies have
exited the tournament in the semi-finals the past three seasons, and recently
suffered their first double-digit loss in years. ESPN basketball analyst LaChina
Robinson explores the legacy of UConn, and whether the Huskies' dynasty is near
its end.
Jan. 22: The Glamorous Lakers' Unlikely Leader
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel was not first pick for the job. Or second. Even as
he landed the top spot with "The Lake Show" and LeBron, questions swirled over
how long he would last. Now, with the team leading the Western Conference, NBA
insider Kevin Arnovitz breaks down the understated success of Vogel's
leadership.
Jan. 21: Start By Believing: How USA Gymnastics Failed the Survivors of Larry
Nassar
It's been two years since Larry Nassar was sentenced to life in prison for
sexually assaulting hundreds of girls and women. We are still learning more
about how gymnastics organizations and officials enabled his abuse. ESPN
investigative reporter John Barr is co-author of the book "Start By Believing,"
about the culture of gymnastics and Nassar's survivors. He joins Mina Kimes to
reveal new findings from his reporting.
Jan. 20: Super Bowl Bound: 49ers and Chiefs
Super Bowl LIV is set! The 49ers sent Aaron Rodgers and the Packers...packing.
Then, the Chiefs engineered another comeback victory to steal away the Titans'
championship dreams. ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell breaks down how we wound up
with the teams that will meet in Miami.
Jan. 17: The Notorious McG: Conor McGregor Inside and Outside Ultimate Fighting
On Saturday two UFC legends collide on ESPN+ as Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone faces
Irishman Conor McGregor, perhaps the most notorious fighter in mixed martial
arts. ESPN Senior Writer Kevin Van Valkenburg visited Ireland to see how years
of controversy, troubling behavior, and criminal allegations have affected
McGregor's folk hero status at home.
Jan. 16: The Rise and Fall of Baseball's Hottest Young Manager
Red Sox manager Alex Cora is out on sign-stealing allegations from the MLB. The
charges date back to 2017, when he was the bench coach for the Houston Astros.
It's a stunning downfall for a man considered one of the most talented young
managers in the game. ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney joins Mina Kimes to
explore Cora's career, and his role in this huge baseball scandal.
Jan. 15: Waiting for Zion
Since Zion Williamson was drafted first overall in 2019, NBA fans - well, New
Orleans Pelicans fans, in particular - couldn't wait to see their new
superstar's talent. But then, the unthinkable happened, and Williamson went down
with a meniscus injury during the preseason. Now, as he's recovered and ready to
take the court, ESPN NBA insider Andrew Lopez joins Mina Kimes to discuss what
Zion's return means for basketball in New Orleans.
Jan. 14: Championship and Punishment: LSU Wins and Astros Face Consequences
College football has a new champion: the LSU Tigers. ESPN's Mike Golic Jr. joins
Mina Kimes from New Orleans to break down the big game. Then, the Houston Astros
face unprecedented consequences after the 2017 sign stealing scandal. Baseball
insider Jeff Passan joins to discuss the fallout...and what happens next.
Jan. 13: The NFL's Divisional Weekend Drama
This weekend's NFL action was full of shock and awe. On Saturday, the San
Francisco 49ers' defense stymied Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings. In
Baltimore, the Ravens were upset by a stout Tennessee Titans defense and
ferocious rushing attack. And on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs engineered a
breathtaking comeback over the Houston Texans, and Aaron Rodgers and the Green
Bay Packers held on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN insider Bill Barnwell
and Mina Kimes break down the highs and lows of the divisional weekend.
Jan 10: The Legend of Coach O
Bring up LSU Coach Ed Orgeron, and someone is bound to say "Geaux Tigers!" in
his often-imitated, never duplicated voice, all gravel and grit. It seems like
destiny that Coach O would lead the purple and gold, but his career has been
full of twists and turns. Ahead of the National Championship Game, ESPN's David
Hale tells us the legend of this bayou man.
Jan. 9: Where Have All the Big Men Gone?
For years, the NBA style of play was dominated by "big men," players who stand
6-foot-10 or more and who go to the post to score. Now, the biggest players
shoot more from the outside. And it's all by design. ESPN's NBA insider Jackie
MacMullan joins Mina Kimes to discuss why simply posting up is going the way of
the dodo.
Jan. 8: Can't Stop Lamar Jackson? Hire an Impersonator.
Lamar Jackson has stymied NFL defenses with his speed and creativity. To prepare
to take down this year's MVP frontrunner, teams are practicing against Jackson
impersonators. How do you find a Lamar Jackson imitator who has his speed,
accuracy, and athleticism? ESPN Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley went around the
league to find out.
Jan. 7: Can Clemson Be a Superpower and an Underdog?
All eyes are on Clemson as the National Championship draws near, and the team
has proven itself to be a powerhouse. But head coach Dabo Swinney always seems
to be fighting to get the respect he thinks the Tigers deserve. ESPN's Andrea
Adelson joins Mina Kimes to discuss where the program has been...and what's
next.
Jan. 6: NFL Wild-Card Wrap
The NFL's wild-card games delivered nonstop action. In the AFC, the Titans upset
the Patriots in what might have been Tom Brady's last game in Foxborough, while
Buffalo fell to Houston in overtime. The NFC games saw overtime heroics from the
Vikings to beat the Saints. And Seattle bested an injury-hampered Philadelphia
team. ESPN insider Bill Barnwell joins Mina Kimes to break down the slate.
Jan. 3: The NFL's Nice Guy: Russell Wilson
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson gets many labels: positive, good-natured,
nice, wholesome. For some, it's hard to believe Wilson could maintain this
attitude in today's NFL and have it be authentic. As Seattle prepares for the
playoffs, guest host Domonique Foxworth delves into Wilson's personality and
style of play with ESPN reporter Dotun Akintoye.
Jan. 2: An Incredible Reunion + Remembering David Stern
As you watch the Chiefs play, look for running backs coach Deland McCullough. He
has an incredible story, one that he shared with ESPN's Sarah Spain. After
decades of not knowing his birth parents, McCullough's search for the truth led
him to an incredible revelation - and reunion - with football at the center.
Also, Jeremy Schaap offers a remembrance of legendary NBA Commissioner David
Stern.
Jan. 1, 2020: From the Patriots to Prison: Reche Caldwell
Reche Caldwell made his NFL name with the Patriots. Today, his name is in the
news around a federal lawsuit involving medical fraud. ESPN's David Fleming
covered Caldwell in 2016, when the former player was incarcerated for buying
illegal drugs online. Fleming re-tells the story of how Caldwell Googled his way
from the Patriots to prison.
2019
Dec. 31: The Mystery of ESPN's Missing Tapes
ESPN broadcast its first game 40 years ago - but it wasn't the NFL or a big
fight. It was a pro softball game, of all things. ESPN's Jeremy Schaap set out
to find the tapes...and discovered that they'd been missing for decades. Schaap
joins Mina Kimes to share the mystery of the lost tapes.
Dec. 30: The NFL Playoff Field is Set
The NFL's 2019 regular season came to a close, and several teams in both
conferences sealed their destinies. With an upset in Foxborough, Philadelphia
claiming the NFC East, and a game of inches in Seattle, the playoff picture is
in focus. ESPN insider Bill Barnwell breaks down the field.
Dec. 27: The Movie "Rudy" vs. The Actual Rudy
"Rudy" is a sports movie classic. And it defined the life of the actual man who
inspired the story: Rudy Ruettiger, who is now in his 70s. Revered by many Notre
Dame fans, Ruettiger is also plagued by critics over whether the movie
exaggerated a plot point or two. ESPN's Ryan McGee spent time with the real Rudy
to find out more, and he joins Mina Kimes to distinguish fact and fiction, from
Rudy's point of view.
Dec. 26: What's Next for Jalen Hurts?
In a dramatic college football career, Jalen Hurts has divided football insiders
about his potential upside. From Alabama to Oklahoma, Hurts has always been a
serious player and hoped for a future in the NFL. ESPN's Ivan Maisel got insider
access to Jalen Hurts, his family, coaches and colleagues. He joins Mina Kimes
to discuss the college QB, known as a man of few words.
Dec. 25: When Eagles Fans Booed Santa: The Notorious True Story
It's one of the most infamous fan stories in sports history: when Eagles fans
booed Santa at halftime of a game played at Franklin Field. But who was the
Santa in question, and why was he booed and pelted with snowballs? Outside the
Lines' Jeremy Schaap joins Mina Kimes to reflect on the enduring legacy of the
Philadelphia Santa.
Dec. 24: Christmasketball: NBA Christmas Day Preview
Get ready for the gift of basketball on Christmas Day, as the NBA settles in
under the tree. We tear open five matchups with ESPN NBA Analyst Kirk Goldsberry
as he reveals who has been naughty and who has been nice this season.
Dec. 23: NFL: Eagles Fly Over Dallas and Bengals Win by Losing
The Eagles upset Dallas, but can they stay on the path to the playoffs? NFL
insider Bill Barnwell joins Mina Kimes to break down how they did it, and
whether they can keep the success going. Then, the Bengals have lost their way
to first draft pick. And what does that mean for the other teams at the bottom
of the league?
Dec. 20: Hot Seat Szn: The NFL Coaching Carousel
Black Monday, the day after the final Sunday in the NFL's regular season, is
when head coaches often transition from the hot seat to the unemployment line.
And it's approaching quickly. But what lands coaches on the hot seat in the
first place? ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano joins Mina Kimes to discuss how
coaches wind up with job insecurity, and how they can avoid the chopping block.
Dec. 19: How the Milwaukee Bucks Became the Beast of the East
The Milwaukee Bucks could be the NBA's best team. But after last season's
disappointing playoff exit, many thought the squad couldn't repeat its success.
NBA writer Chris Herring joins Mina Kimes to explain what the small market
Bucks' continued dominance means for basketball.
Dec. 18: The Chess Grandmaster's Extreme Workout
Chess grandmasters need incredible amounts of brain power, but also extreme
physical endurance. Major tournaments can run for six hours a day, 10 to 12 days
in a row. Players might burn up to 6,000 calories and lose two pounds a day
during these grueling matches. To prepare, today's chess world champions endure
physical training that would tire out any pro athlete: hours a day of running,
swimming or playing tennis while maintaining a strict diet. ESPN's Aishwarya
Kumar joins Mina Kimes to break down how top chess players meld mind and body
training in more sophisticated and extreme ways, all to best their fierce
rivals.
Dec. 17: NFL's Secret Weapon: How Fullbacks Made a Comeback
NFL fullbacks are some of the hardest-working and most beloved players in the
sport, but they've struggled to find success in the spotlight. This season,
things are different. FiveThirtyEight's Josh Hermsmeyer joins Mina Kimes to
explore how fullbacks are having their best year ever, and why they've been the
key to success for football offenses.
Dec 16: Bill-ieve it! Buffalo in the Playoffs and New England's New Scandal
The Buffalo Bills clinched a playoff spot for the second time in three years.
How did they get here, and does their turnaround story hold lessons for other
NFL teams? ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell joins Mina Kimes to explain the Bills'
surprising success. Then, in light of new video evidence, Bill and Mina break
down the Patriots "Spygate II" video taping scandal.
Dec. 13: Like Father, Like Son? What LeBron's Legacy Means for Bronny James
LeBron James has turned basketball on its head, from the moment he first stepped
onto the court. His son, Bronny, is currently a high school NBA prospect. But
how much has basketball changed since LeBron got his start - and how much has he
paved the way for his son to succeed...or to fail? ESPN's Brian Windhorst joins
Mina Kimes to get an inside look at the lives and careers of LeBron and Bronny
James, the nature of fame, and the impact of sports on family.
Dec. 12: Heisman Heist: How O.J. Simpson's Trophies Were Lost, Stolen, and Found
After O.J. Simpson won the Heisman Trophy in 1968, two statues were made: one
for Simpson, and one for his alma mater USC. However, following Simpson's
infamous murder trial, both trophies went missing. What happened to O.J.'s
Heismans? ESPN's Ryan McGee joins Mina Kimes to share the true story that
involves a heist gone wrong, an auction gone right, nameplate switches, legal
battles and more.
Dec. 11: Knicks, Nixed: The Future of the New York Knicks with David Fizdale's
Firing
The New York Knicks' former head coach David Fizdale is just the latest in a
series of coaches and front office types who have tried in vain to turn things
around at Madison Square Garden. It is a tempting challenge, however, to become
the legendary figure who brings back the Knicks' glory. ESPN NBA insider Ramona
Shelburne joins Mina Kimes to discuss Fizdale and what it might take to break
the Knicks' two decades of failure.
Dec. 10: The Harden Puzzle: How Houston Rockets Star James Harden Confounds NBA
Defenses
James Harden's basketball strengths are varied and, for a defense trying to
guard him, frustrating. Now, teams are trying something different against the
Houston Rockets' versatile star. ESPN senior writer Zach Lowe joins Mina Kimes
to measure Harden's impact on the league this season and to discuss effective
ways to stop him.
Dec. 9: Touchdowns and Tigers: 49ers @ Saints Offensive Showdown + LSU is #1
The NFL playoffs don't start for another month, but Sunday's 49ers-Saints
offensive explosion definitely had an electric playoff feel. ESPN senior writer
Bill Barnwell joins Mina Kimes to break down what led to a blockbuster 90-plus
point game in New Orleans. Then, ESPN college football reporter Heather Dinich
shares an inside look at the college football team rankings, joining us from the
scene of the committee's Selection Day in Texas.
Dec. 6: One Conference to Rule Them All: Does the SEC Have Too Much Influence?
On Saturday, LSU faces Georgia for the SEC Championship. A Georgia win would
most likely earn both teams a trip to the College Football Playoff, and leave
the Big 12 and Pac-12 champions on the outside looking in. But should one
conference have so much influence? ESPN's Paul Finebaum takes a look at the
matchup, and weighs in on who deserves to be in.
Dec. 5: Inside the NHL's Alleged Head Coaching Abuses
After an NHL head coach got fired, an unexpected outpouring began - with players
speaking out on alleged psychological and physical abuses, and also racist
remarks from coaches. Given all that's been aired, what's next for the league?
ESPN hockey writer Emily Kaplan joins Mina Kimes to break down the culture
around the allegations, and what it all means for a sport trying to grow its fan
base.
Dec. 4: The Dawn of Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is having an electric second season in the NBA. He's even in the
running for the MVP at just 20 years old. But what makes last season's Rookie of
the Year so dominant on the court - and why did the skeptics underestimate him?
NBA Draft analyst Mike Schmitz joins Mina Kimes to examine Luka's career so far,
and what his ascent means for the rest of the NBA.
Dec. 3: Where Does Cam Newton Go From Here?
*NOTE: We recorded this episode before news broke that the Panthers are letting
go of head coach Ron Rivera.*
Cam Newton's season got put on hold following a foot injury this year, and now
the quarterback's future with the Carolina Panthers seems up in the air. But
there are plenty of teams that could benefit from Newton's unique blend of
athleticism and leadership. ESPN Senior NFL Writer Jeremy Fowler joins Mina
Kimes to explore Newton's memorable football life and what the Panthers could
gain or lose without him.
Dec. 2: Is Tom Brady Slipping? And Who Even Wants to Win the NFC East?
After the Texans upset the Patriots we have to ask (again): is it real this
time? Is Tom Brady slipping? Host Mina Kimes and ESPN Senior Football Writer
Bill Barnwell turn to the numbers for answers. Then, after the Eagles fell to
the Dolphins and the Cowboys lost to the Bills, another pressing question: does
any team really want to win the NFC East?
Nov. 29: College Football Rivalry Week + "Behold the NHL Dentist" Replay
It's Rivalry Week in the world of college football! Mina Kimes discusses the
unique nature of the bowl system - more than 30 games and we haven't even
reached the peak ones. Then: a replay of our story where we enter the world of
NHL dentists - the brave heroes who attempt to put hockey players' notorious
grins back together. ESPN writer Dave Fleming takes Mina on a gory, grueling
journey of mouth molds, chiclets, emergency surgery and more tales of dental
hockey horror.
Nov. 28: Thanksgiving Special: NFL Turkey Day Preview + "The Great NBA Heist"
Replay
Thanksgiving Day NFL games are a tradition unto themselves. Mina Kimes previews
the matchups and offers a special appreciation for...Frank Gore. The Buffalo
Bills running back just passed Barry Sanders for third in the all-time rushing
yards record. Then: it was the perfect crime, and a rising star executive with
the Sacramento Kings almost got away with it. ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz explains how
an up-and-coming NBA sales guy defrauded the team out of $13 million - and how
he got caught by an unlikely sleuth.
Nov. 27: Drop the Gloves? Hockey Fighting Hits Historic Lows
NHL hockey is notorious for gnarly fights on the ice. But we're seeing those
brawls less and less. ESPN NHL insider Greg Wyshynski joins Mina Kimes to tell
you why fewer players are dropping the gloves, how the game itself is moving
toward a different style of play, and what that means for the future of the
sport.
Nov. 26: Hilinski's Hope: One Family's Football Story
University of South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski has been one of college
football's biggest surprises this season. But as Ryan sees success, the family
continues to mourn the loss of the older brother, Tyler -- also a college
quarterback, for Washington State -- who died by suicide in 2018. ESPN's Jen
Lada shares her extensive interviews with the Hilinskis for E:60, documenting
the family's tough decisions about football, and their path to hope.
Nov 25: Stop and Go: 49ers Rebuild Defense and Lamar Jackson Seems Unstoppable
The 49ers defense has the rest of the NFC on notice after a dominant win over
the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. But how did SF's defense get this good,
this fast? ESPN NFL Insider Bill Barnwell joins the show to explain the Niners'
dynamic defense. Then - Mina and Bill try to answer a question that's got the
entire NFL scratching their heads, and that the LA Rams face on Monday Night
Football: can Lamar Jackson be stopped?
Nov 22: Get a Grip! NFL QB Secrets to Handling the Pigskin
It seems so basic. And yet, it can reveal so much - how an NFL quarterback holds
the ball. ESPN Senior Writer David Fleming talked to some of the league's top
signal callers to find out their preferences, their quirks, and the unique
stories behind their grips.
Nov. 21: Beyond the Helmet Hit: Who is Myles Garrett?
After appealing his suspension for hitting Steelers QB Mason Rudolph in the head
with his own helmet, Browns DE Myles Garrett awaits the NFL's next decision. In
extensive interviews done before this violent incident, ESPN's Ryan Smith gained
unprecedented insight into Myles Garrett's personality and life off the field
for a profile on E:60. Smith joins Mina Kimes for a closer look at Garrett, and
the culture of aggression in the NFL.
Nov. 20: Stealing the Signs: How Allegations Against the Astros Could Change
Baseball
Major League Baseball has promised a thorough investigation into the Astros'
stealing of pitching signs during their 2017 championship run, using a live
video feed and...trash cans. At the owners meetings, MLB commissioner Rob
Manfred said there is no reason to expand the case to other teams at this time.
But the scandal has raised big questions, and could change the game itself. ESPN
MLB Insider Jeff Passan explores tough decisions for the league going forward.
Nov. 19: The Great NBA Heist: How One Man Stole Millions from the Sacramento
Kings
It was the perfect crime: steal millions from the Sacramento Kings...to flip
houses? Kevin Arnovitz joins Mina Kimes to explain how one up-and-coming
basketball exec threw it all away while trying to pull off one of the boldest
fraud schemes in NBA history - and how he almost got away with it.
Nov 18: NFL Monday: Kaepernick Works Out, Rivers Looks Ahead
Colin Kaepernick's Saturday workout didn't seem to get him or the NFL what they
wanted. But it did put a fine point on the state of quarterbacks around the
league. ESPN NFL expert Bill Barnwell breaks down the workout story, and what it
means for Kaep and the teams. And, ahead of tonight's game in Mexico City: what
does Philip Rivers' future look like with - or without - the Los Angeles
Chargers? ESPN Chargers reporter Eric Williams joins Mina to examine Rivers'
role in the game... and his uniquely meme-able face.
Nov 15: Lamar vs. Deshaun: Dual-Threat Duel
On Sunday, we will see one of the most anticipated match-ups of the NFL season -
Deshaun Watson taking on Lamar Jackson. The last time these QBs faced off, they
were in college. Watson on his way to winning a national championship with
Clemson. Jackson at Louisville, about to win the Heisman Trophy. Now they are
NFL MVP candidates. Domonique Foxworth joins Mina Kimes to breakdown the Sunday
showdown that features two of the league's most exciting signal callers.
Nov. 14: Fantasy, Meet Reality: A Running Back Breaks Out, Then Disappears
When New England running back Jonas Gray took the field vs. the Indianapolis
Colts five years ago, no one could have predicted the incredible outburst of
scoring that would land him national attention, and even a magazine cover. Nor
could anyone have predicted how quickly that success would disappear, through a
series of mishaps. ESPN senior writer Liz Merrill tells Mina Kimes the story of
an underdog, his big shot, and how players might always be one step away from
glory - or obscurity - in the NFL.
Nov. 13: Rockets Have Liftoff? Harden, Westbrook, and Houston's Offense
Tonight on ESPN, the Rockets - led by a reunited James Harden and Russell
Westbrook - play host to the LA Clippers. But Houston's superstars share a
complex past, which they are hoping will lead to a mutually beneficial future.
NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry joins Mina Kimes to explore how the Harden-Westbrook
relationship will shape the Rockets' season.
Nov. 12: The Price of Eligibility: An NBA Prospect, Penny Hardaway, and a
Controversial NCAA Ruling
James Wiseman is considered a potential No. 1 pick in the NBA. But, as his
University of Memphis team gets ready to play Oregon tonight, the focus is on
whether Wiseman should be on the court at all. Late last week, the NCAA ruled
him ineligible. ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas joins Mina Kimes to discuss
Wiseman's situation, the role his coach Penny Hardaway played, and what it all
means for the rights of college athletes.
Nov 11: NFC Best? Rams Offense Struggles + Seahawks-Niners Rivalry Reignites
The NFC West is perhaps the most competitive division in the NFL. The 49ers are
the only undefeated team in the NFL (8-0). The Seahawks (7-2) are led by Russell
Wilson, having a MVP-candidate season. Then, there are the LA Rams. Just 9
months removed from a Super Bowl appearance, the Rams suffered another
disappointing loss yesterday, this time in Pittsburgh, leaving them third in the
NFC West. Bill Barnwell joins Mina Kimes to break down the Rams struggling
offense. Then, ahead of Monday Night's monster NFC West showdown, former
Seahawks DE Cliff Avril goes inside Seattle's rivalry with the 49ers.
Nov. 8: LSU @ Alabama: How the New Tigers Offense Is Upping the Rivalry's Stakes
College football has a storied history of epic rivalries, and none bigger than
LSU taking on Alabama. The two powerhouses face-off this Saturday, and the
stakes have never been higher. ESPN reporter Ryan McGee joins Mina Kimes to
discuss how LSU's newly developed high-powered offense could turn the tide and
write the next chapter in this glorious SEC showdown.
Nov. 7: Slapshot, Meet Smile: Inside the Craziest Job in Sports - The NHL
Dentist
Pucks to the mouth. Teeth flying to the ice. Hockey players aren't known for
their perfect smiles. But have you ever wondered who exactly comes to the rescue
mid-game, after a player takes a slapshot to the teeth, and gets him back on the
ice? Enter the world of NHL dentists - the brave heroes who put hockey players'
notorious grins back together. ESPN writer Dave Fleming takes Mina Kimes on a
gory, grueling journey of mouth molds, chiclets, emergency surgery, and more
tales of dental hockey horror.
Nov. 6: Golden State of Affairs: No Curry, No Klay. What's Next?
In the modern NBA, the Golden State Warriors have been a dynasty. Appearing in
five straight NBA Finals and winning three rings in that span, the team became
the stuff of basketball legend. But this season, they've won just two games. And
with star Steph Curry out with a broken hand, the Warriors' fate has gone from
bad to worse. But could a rough 2019-20 lead to more glory in the future? NBA
reporter Nick Friedell joins Mina Kimes to explore what's gone wrong with the
Golden State Warriors so far, and why there might just be a silver lining.
Nov. 5: Cleveland Chaos: Baker Mayfield, OBJ and the Failing Browns
Another NFL weekend. Another Browns loss, accompanied by off-the-field
headlines. This time, Jermaine Whitehead released after a series of threatening
tweets. Cleveland's season was not supposed to go this way. With the addition of
OBJ, the team had high hopes going into 2019. But now, the Baker Mayfield-led
Browns sit at just 2-6. How did they get here and where do they go now? Browns
reporter Jake Trotter joins Mina Kimes to explore why Cleveland fell apart.
Plus, Mina wants you to know why Michigan State may be for real this season, as
the college basketball season tips off with tonight's Champions Classic.
Nov. 4: NFL COVER 2: Ravens Trounce Patriots and Dak Prescott's Big Payday
After Sunday's packed NFL slate, ESPN insider Bill Barnwell joins Mina Kimes to
discuss how Lamar Jackson and the Ravens handed Tom Brady and the Patriots their
first loss of the season Sunday night. Then, as the Cowboys prepare for a Monday
Night Football rematch against the New York Giants, Dallas reporter Todd Archer
gives us the latest on quarterback Dak Prescott's contract situation, explaining
why Dak not signing prior to the season will lead to a bigger payday.
Nov. 1: UFC 244: Is Jorge Masvidal the Baddest Man in MMA?
Saturday night, Jorge Masvidal takes on Nate Diaz in UFC 244. Masvidal owns the
record for fastest knockout in UFC history - five seconds - and got his start
fighting in backyard brawls organized by Kimbo Slice. Now, he wants to be known
as the baddest MF on the planet. After spending time with Masvidal in his
hometown of Miami, ESPN's Brett Okamoto talks with Mina Kimes about the man they
call "Gamebred" and his rapid rise to superstardom.
Oct. 31: Champs and Chumps: Washington's World Series Comeback and Life Inside
Miami's Tank
As World Champions, the Nationals are on top of the MLB - and on top of the
world. ESPN's Joon Lee breaks down how the Nats completed their epic finish. In
contrast, the Miami Dolphins are down in the dumps. After getting off to an 0-7
start, their season has been branded as a "tank." What's it like to be a player
on a team that's not trying to win? Dolphins insider Cameron Wolfe explains life
inside the tank.
Oct. 30: Kyrie, KD and Company: The Evolution of the New Brooklyn Nets
For the Brooklyn Nets, expectations have never been higher. As they tip off
tonight against the Indiana Pacers, the mood in Barclays Center will be
electric. They have a new power trio - Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre
Jordan. After an offseason of cultural changes, ESPN's Jackie MacMullan takes a
deep dive into Brooklyn's incredible franchise turnaround and the team's future.
Oct. 29: Not Your Average Robo-Call: Why the MLB Needs an Electronic Umpire
System
The World Series is back in Houston for Game 6 tonight, but fans are still
talking about a controversial strike call from Sunday's Game 5. The call could
have cost the Washington Nationals - big time. MLB insider Jeff Passan makes the
case for the electronic umpire system and what it could mean for the future of
baseball.
Oct. 28: A Glowing Bill of Health: Belichick's NFL Coaching Legacy
Bill Belichick is considered by many to be the greatest NFL coach of all time.
On Sunday, he won his 300th game. So how did Belichick become the standard of
excellence in the NFL? ESPN's Bill Barnwell joins Mina to discuss the Patriots'
dominant win over the Browns. Then, Senior Writer Ian O'Connor - who wrote the
book on the Patriots' coach - takes a deep dive into Belichick's football legacy
and where he goes from here.
Oct. 25: #Natitude: DC's Meteoric Rise to the World Series
The Washington Nationals are back in D.C. for Game 3 tonight, and they are on
the verge of making history. Up 2-0 in the Series, the Nats have a chance to
bring a baseball championship home for the first time since 1924. But how did
they get here - especially considering their early-season slump? ESPN Senior
Writer Tim Kurkjian explores the Nats' journey, how they handled the departure
of their star Bryce Harper, their mid-season turnaround, and of course - "Baby
Shark."
Oct. 24: "Thank God We Got Osuna!" What One Incident Reveals About the Culture
of the Houston Astros
Things have not been going well for the Houston Astros in the World Series. They
are down 0-2 - but all the talk has been about how they are handling a team's
executive's taunting of reporters over a domestic violence issue. Baseball
insider Jeff Passan explains what's really going on, and how this incident
reveals much bigger truths about the Astros' culture. Could their insatiable
hunger to win cost them more than a championship?
Oct. 23: From Three? Ben Simmons' Woes from Behind the Arc
76ers star Ben Simmons' lack of a 3 point shot has other teams around the league
daring him to shoot. But if he turns his struggle into success - what will it
mean for Philadelphia's season going forward? Mina Kimes and Tim Bontemps tap
into what it will take for Simmons to tackle his white whale.
Oct. 22: King James vs. Kawhi: How LA's New Neighbors Ignited the NBA's Hottest
Rivalry
As the NBA tips off tonight, all eyes turn to the Staples Center in LA. Lakers
versus Clippers. LeBron versus Kawhi. Two superstars that could've ended up on
the same team, now battling each other for league dominance. Basketball insider
Ramona Shelburne breaks down this new rivalry and its implications for LA's
sports scene - and basketball at large.
Oct. 21: Season Saved: Can the Cowboys keep Jerry Jones' dream alive?
It was do-or-die for Dallas last night, and the Cowboys decided to do. Big time.
But a win over Philadelphia might not be the turning point everyone assumes it
is. Have the Cowboys really saved their season -- and Jason Garrett's
head-coaching job -- in the process? Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Don Van
Natta explains, reminding us that Dallas' owner and GM is Jerry Jones.
The trailer
Host Mina Kimes introduces ESPN Daily. Sports never sounded so good.
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