Sports Illustrated Weekly

A lengthy investigation by the NBA into Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver has uncovered a deeply troubling history of racist and sexist behavior. As a consequence, Sarver reluctantly received a one-year suspension and a $10 million fine, prompting widespread criticism that the punishment is disproportionate to the considerable infractions. SI’s Rohan Nadkarni joins to discuss the details of the findings and how the league should rectify its verdict. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a New York Baseball double-header John Gonzalez first sits down with Tom Verducci who got a rare interview with the history-chasing Aaron Judge. Will he hit 62 HRs? Will he resign with the Yankees? Then Stephanie Apstein joins the show to explain why this year might just be the year the Mets don't well... Mets. Can New York's second team shake off years of disfunction and make a push for the World Series? Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who's to blame when your favorite soccer team sucks? It's probably not the players or the manager...it's the mysterious millionaires and billionaires who fund the clubs we love. Producer Jordan Rizzieri asks soccer journalists from around the world Luis Miguel Echegaray, Matt Ford, and Justin Salhani what ownership means in different leagues and is there anything fans can do to be heard. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the first complete season that major leaguers have worn microphones on the field during Sunday Night Baseball. How's that going? We check in with SI's Emma Baccellieri and ask about the frolicking, folly, and inadvertent f-bombs that can come with a hot mic. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Football season is upon us! NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe and Dan Hanzus joins to recap a fun season of ‘Hard Knocks’ before predicting which teams will make it out of each division, through the playoffs, and all the way to the Super Bowl. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

USMNT supporters don’t have to wait until the World Cup to watch American internationals thrive in top club competitions. CBS Sports’ Luis Miguel Echegaray joins us to discuss Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United, Christian “Captain America” Pulisic, the conundrum at center forward, and what Gregg Berhalter’s side might look like in November. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the calendar rolls into September sports fans head back to school for college football. John Gonzalez sits down with SI college football experts Ross Dellenger and Pat Forde to discuss everything from this year's Heisman hopefuls, to NIL money's effect on recruiting before giving their picks for who's going to make the College Football Playoff. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With three World Series, a World Series MVP, and two All-Star nods under his belt, many would say 36-year-old Pablo Sandoval has accomplished more than enough in Major League Baseball to retire. But instead, the Venezuelan has recently taken his talents down to the Mexican League in an attempt to extend his illustrious career. Writer Joseph Bien-Kahn joins John to tell the story of the man they affectionately call “Kung Fu Panda.” Read the original GQ article here. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX and since then you'd be hard pressed to find any person who's done more for women’s athletics than Billie Jean King. In addition to her on court accomplishments in tennis, King has served as an activist, a business woman, and an iconic cultural figure. Along with an interview with King herself, Caitlin Thompson of Racquet Magazine joins John Gonzalez to put Billie Jean King’s life and achievements in perspective. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you say goodbye to the GOAT? Serena Williams transcended tennis and changed the game for the better, but John Gonzalez is asking by SI Senior Writer Jon Wertheim what's next after she hangs up the racket? And who's going to come out on to of the Men's and Women's sides in a US Open that seems completely up for grabs? Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NFL regular season is nearly upon us and football-mad America is primed for another season of its favorite sport. But have you ever wondered which country outside the US is second-best at American football? It’s not Canada or the UK. Senior producer Harry Swartout has the surprising answer – which traces all the way back to a big international game in the 70s and includes no small amount of booze-fueled hijinks. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Sports Illustrated Weekly John Gonzalez sits down with SI Staff Writer Emma Baccellieri for an old-fashioned baseball double-header. First, when the benches clear it's not long before the brawl starts, unless you're a reliever and  have to run all the way in from the bullpen. Then, no L.A. Dodgers game is complete without a signature Dodger Dog, but what makes these franks so fantastic...or not? Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legendary Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith remembers what it was like to make his iconic Sports Illustrated covers and describes how the present-day Cowboys can return to the glory days. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 In the shadow of Manchester United's legendary Old Trafford stadium, an almost mythic crime boss amassed power against a backdrop of drug trafficking, hooliganism, and rave music. Writer Reid Forgrave tells the story of Paul Massey, the Red Army, a grisly murder, and the one tiny mistake that landed two men in prison for life. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2022 WNBA Playoff season begins with a new (old) format, eight hungry teams, and some incredible women bidding a fond farewell. John Gonzalez is joined by the host of Spinsters and Buckets, Jordan Ligons, to talk predictions, possible upsets, and the unique way some all stars will be living out their retirement. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World-class hurdler Devon Allen's track season ended with a controversial call at the World Championships in Eugene. Now, the 27-year-old is trying to make a name for himself at Eagles training camp as roster cuts loom. Producer Jess Yarmosky checked in with NBC Sports Philadelphia's Reuben Frank and performance coach Steve Magness about how Allen's prowess on the track may make him indomitable in Philly...or not. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone sees the broken bones, torn ligaments and bloodied bodies of injured athletes, but many of their deepest scars are mental. A small group of athletes are pioneering the treatment of their mental health issues with psychedelic drugs, but as Julie Kliegman reports it's going to be a while before the sporting community rejects the taboo stigma and embraces psychedelic medicine. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the upcoming additions of USC and UCLA, the Big 10 stretches from sea to shining sea, but what does that mean for college football? John Gonzalez is joined by SI Senior Writer Pat Forde to break down if the Big 10's West Coast expansion is good for the fans, the schools, the conference and college football as a whole. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2022 marked 50 years of Title IX, the landmark legislation that set the stage for gender equality in sports. SI staffers Kristen Nelson, Jamie Lisanti, Emma Baccellieri, and Julie Kliegman reflect on how far we've come, and what barriers are still preventing women in sports from achieving true equality. Follow @podcasts_si / @johngonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the odds of catching a foul ball at a game, or being dealt a Royal flush in poker, or even being struck by lightning? Some things are rarer than others, and on this episode SI Senior Writer Jon Wertheim tells the unlikely tale of how Phillies OF Nick Castellanos became a meme by hitting oddly and hilariously-timed home runs again and again and again. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most NBA fans know the tongue-in-cheek phrase "one, two, three … Cancun!" as synonymous with a losing team's morale. But who authored it, and how did it get to be so popular? SI senior writer Howard Beck explains the origins of this expression and how it proliferated in the world of basketball. ‘One, Two, Three … Cancun!’ The Story Behind the Best Punch Line in the NBA Playoffs on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Re-Air: Former Sports Illustrated writer Jenny Vrentas, now a reporter at the New York Times, walks us through her reporting on embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson and the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. SI Weekly host John Gonzalez wonders if the 6-game suspension punishment doled out by retired federal judge Sue L. Robinson is enough or will the NFL appeal for a longer one. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Russell died July 31st 2022 at the age of 88. He was a basketball legend, an 11x NBA Champion, 5x MVP, 3x All-NBA First team, 2x NCAA champion and Olympic Gold Medal winner. Off the court Russell was a civil rights leader and much-loved fan favorite. As part of SI's Open Floor podcast, John Gonzalez and Rohan Nadkarni discuss the immense impact Bill Russell had on basketball and the world. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During this breakout summer for women's soccer, the excitement wasn't limited to traditional hotbeds, in fact, tournaments were held on every inhabited continent. Producer Jordan Rizzieri traveled to England for the 2022 European Women's Football Championship which ended with the hosts defeating Germany 2-1 in the final. What she saw in the cradle of soccer felt like nothing short of a turning point for the beautiful game. Follow @podcasts_si | @JordanRizzieriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vince McMahon stepped down as Chairman of WWE amidst swirling allegations of sexual misconduct and attempts at a coverup as AEW pushes WWE for viewers in the first true wrestling ratings clash since Monday Night Wars more than 25 years ago. SI Weekly Host John Gonzalez sits down with SI's Justin Barrasso, who lays out whether he thinks WWE will defend its wrestling crown or AEW will pull off a titanic upset. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All 32 NFL training camps are underway, which means it's time to start prepping for fantasy football. John Gonzalez sits down with SI fantasy analysts Jennifer Piacenti and Michael Fabiano to go over SI's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit. Who should go No.1? How will big trades affect fantasy production? Which rookie is poised to break out? Listen and go draft a winner. SI's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez | Choosing Sides: F1 podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With NFL training camps beginning, SI's Andrew Brandt explains how one trade by the Eagles defines the offseason and shows how teams are emphasizing one position in particular. Business of the NFL Draft: A.J. Brown, Wide Receiver Trades the Story of the Offseason Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the eve of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, one of Track & Field's best-loved stars, Sir Mo Farah, revealed a secret which upended everything we thought we knew about his life. Producer Jessica Yarmosky relays the story he tells in a BBC documentary The Real Mo Farah and speaks to 1500-meter champion Jake Wightman and Sunder Katwala of British Future about what this revelation means for running, Britain, and Farah's legend. Follow @podcasts_si | Jessica @Yarmosky | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The flight from Havana to Miami takes a mere 80 minutes, and for many Cubans, the promise of starting a new life in the US is too great to ignore. That's even more true for elite baseball players like Cesar Prieto who could make a fortune if he makes it to the big leagues. To complete his journey, Prieto would need some help, and that’s where the extractors come in. SI senior writer Greg Bishop introduces the unforgettable Jo Hastings and Billy Henderson and reveals what a defection sounds like as it happens. The Extractor on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll race is exactly what is sounds like. SI's Emma Baccellieri spoke to the current women's champion, Abby Lampe, to find out how a 21-year-old American triumphed in this age-old British contest. article, All Hail, the Women’s Cheese Roll Champion of the World! Follow @podcasts_si | Guest host @JordanRizzieriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even in an era full of great big-men, Dikembe Mutombo stood out. Beloved for his indomitable spirit on the court, Mutombo is also a humanitarian with a focus on healthcare. Having built a hospital named for his late mother in Kinshasa, he's turned his attention to advocating for vaccine uptake in Africa and the US. SI contributor Brian Burnsed caught up with Mutombo as part of SI's annual 'Where Are They Now?' series. Read Brian Burnsed on SI.com | Where Are They Now? 2022 on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | Guest host Jessica YarmoskySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Schumacher is the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time. With F1 on the rise and a son on the grid, you'd think the elder Schumacher would be font-and-center for this moment. But after a skiing accident, Schumacher has swiftly exited public life. Jon Wertheim has the story as part of SI's annual 'Where Are They Now?' series. Read Jon Wertheim on SI.com | Where Are They Now? 2022 on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | Guest host @JordanRizzieriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Today continues "Where Are They Now?" week at SI. Stay tuned for more shows in our audio series.* After his unlikely NBA career, Englishman John Amaechi sent a shockwave through the sports world by coming out as gay in 2007. Nets center Jason Collins followed six years later. And since then? Not a single NBA player has decided it was worth it to walk their path. SI contributor Chris Ballard flew to London to catch up with John Amaechi, learn about his life as a psychologist, and hear his thoughts on why a blossoming of openly gay players in the NBA hasn't come to pass. John Amaechi, the First NBA Player to Come Out, Is a Psychologist Today. He Has a Lot to Talk Us Through. | Where Are They Now? 2022 on SI.com John Amaechi at The Oxford Union Follow @podcasts_si | Guest host @DanBloomSISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Today kicks off "Where Are They Now?" week at SI. Stay tuned for more shows in our audio series.* Steffi Graf was a dominant force in women's tennis during her prime, winning 22 majors between 1987 and 1999. Two years after retiring, she married Andre Agassi, one the sport's all-time rock stars. If she chose to step into the spotlight, she would instantly draw a raft of endorsements and plum TV jobs. So why doesn't she? SI senior writer Jon Wertheim explains where Steffi Graf has been for the last two decades. Steffi Graf Is Still Too Famous for Steffi Graf | Where Are They Now? 2022 on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | Guest host @JordanRizzieriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wideout versus cornerback. Big brother versus little brother. In the end, it's Stefon and Trevon Diggs versus whatever comes. SI senior writer Alex Prewitt wrote the cover story about these two brothers who lost their father, helped each other grow up, and climbed the heights of the NFL, together. Alex Prewitt on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | Guest host: @DanBloomSI  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 World Cup will have an expanded field hosted by three countries – Canada, the US and Mexico. To discuss the host cities in 2026, as well as the final qualifiers for the upcoming World Cup later this year in Qatar, we’re joined by one of our favorite guests – Luis Miguel Echegaray, formerly of SI, now of CBS Sports and the ¡Qué Golazo! podcast. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Ballsack Sports started posting made-up reports in the guise of real journalism, it got a ton of attention for fooling big names — from NBA general managers to TV talking heads. SI's Ben Pickman tracked down the mysterious figure behind Ballsack Sports and got him to reveal his true motives for trolling the sports world. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Slater is the most successful pro surfer in the history of the sport. Brandon Sneed spent time with this deep thinker from humble beginnings who is still riding waves, learning from the water, and winning competitions at age 50. article, Kelly Slater Won the Super Bowl of Surfing at 50. So, What’s Next? Follow @podcasts_si | @brandonsneedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wimbledon is underway and this year's edition is marked by some notable absences and additions. Russian and Belarusian players were banned due to the invasion of Ukraine but Serena Williams will launch her comeback in London joining notables Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, and Andy Murray in competing for The Championships. SI's tennis expert Jon Wertheim is here with all the news for the fortnight. Jon Wertheim's columns on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzlaezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every summer, softball fans and players take a pilgrimage to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series. SI's Emma Baccellieri went to see this beloved event for the first time, returning with tales of tailgating, Oklahoma Sooners dominance, and their reigning home run queen, Jocelyn Alo. Follow @podcasts_si & guest host @JordanRizzieriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of the fun of the NBA Draft is wondering which players will excel as pros and which ones will wash out. And perhaps no one in this year’s draft embodies the boom or bust debate than Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren – a man with a unique skill set and specific body type that has everyone around the league talking. SI senior writer Greg Bishop joins us to discuss Holmgren’s prospects in the NBA and the conversation surrounding him. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to sports, there’s no shortage of conspiracy theories — but some stand out. With the NBA Draft upon us, we raise an eyebrow at one of the biggest conspiracy theories in sports history: whether the first ever draft lottery in 1985 was rigged with a frozen envelope to send Patrick Ewing to the New York Knicks. To do so, we’re bringing in SI senior writers Chris Herring and Howard Beck, and Jason Concepcion of Crooked Media. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Father's Day, we hear from one of our favorite dads: Pat Forde. Pat has covered nine Olympic Games, but last summer in Tokyo was entirely different. He wrote about the surreal experience of watching his daughter Brooke win a silver medal in swimming. I’ve Covered Nine Olympics. Nothing Prepared Me for Seeing My Daughter Win a MedalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Royce White was best known for a brief and rocky stint in the NBA until 2020, when he re-emerged as a leader in protests against police brutality after George Floyd's murder. Now, he's running for Congress in his home state of Minnesota aligned with the far right wing of the Republican Party. Journalist David Gardner tells us how Royce White fell in with MAGA ideologues like Steve Bannon. The Washington Post, How a former NBA player and activist became a far-right media darling Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2022 NBA Finals are a tale of two teams with two very different kinds of redemption stories. On one side are the Golden State Warriors, a perennial contender for most of the last decade, who missed the playoffs the past two seasons after losing Kevin Durant to the Nets and Klay Thompson to back-to-back injuries. On the other side are the Boston Celtics, a young team with unproven stars whose early season struggles should have made it nearly impossible to reach the championship. SI Senior Writer Chris Mannix sits down with John Gonzalez to explain Boston's improbable turnaround. Then, we revisit the very first segment from SI Weekly, for a fresh look at the Warriors' "reboot on the fly." Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over his 30-year pro career, Phil Mickelson has established himself as one of the greatest golfers ever to play the game. Recently, though, Mickelson has become steeped in controversy over his association with the Saudi-backed startup golf tour, LIV Golf. SI and Morning Read golf writer Bob Harig tells SI Weekly why Mickelson's latest swing may be his biggest yet. Read: Exclusive: Phil Mickelson On LIV Golf and His PGA Tour Status, 'I Have Not Resigned My Membership' Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and Alabama’s Nick Saban are locked in a very messy, very public war of words. Pat Forde reports on this epic SEC spat and the NIL rules at issue. article, Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher and An All-Out SEC War Final FIFA World Cup qualifiers will set the full field for the Finals in Qatar. The irrepressible Luis Miguel Echegaray, SI alum and host at CBS Sports, will make you fall in love with the beautiful game all over again with a World Cup preview. podcast, Qué Golazo Podcast Jon Wertheim tells the story of Carlos Alcaraz, the young Spanish tennis star challenging the "Big Three" of Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer, at the tender age of 19. Read Wertheim on SI.com Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Memorial Day, SI senior writer Jon Wertheim tells the long-hidden story of Man Mountain Dean, a prolific pro wrestler and film actor who trained a special unit of immigrant soldiers called 'The Ritchie Boys' to fight in World War II. Think of what it would be like if The Rock showed up at basic training up to be your drill sergeant. More than just teaching them how to fight, Man Mountain Dean made these new Americans feel a part of their new country. 60 Minutes: Ritchie Boys, a secret U.S. WWII unit bolstered by German-born Jews Uncle Slam's Secret Army by Jon WertheimSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- On Tuesday, Herschel Walker won the Georgia Republican primary for U.S. Senate. We explore how a man once celebrated for running the football ended up running for office. Our guests are SI veteran writer Curry Kirkpatrick and Greg Bluestein & Tia Mitchell of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Politically Georgia Podcast. | SI: More Than Georgia's On His Mind (1981) by Curry Kirkpatrick | Flipped: How Georgia Turned Purple and Broke the Monopoly on Republican Power - The Seattle Mariners have gone 21 years without making the playoffs. How is that OK? Our producer Cooper McKim spoke with Seattle luminaries Mina Kimes, Greg Bishop, Kate Preusser, and his own uncle John to help process a generation of losing. - A cross between There Will Be Blood and Best in Show, all set around the fastest growing sport in America — pickleball. Daily Cover, Barbarians in the Kitchen by John Walters. Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the owners of the New York Liberty chartered private flights last season, they broke WNBA rules and set off a heated debate. With a transformational WNBA season upon us, Howard Megdal reports on this continuing conversation about equity. How Airplanes Became the WNBA’s Biggest Scandal Cursing in professional sports is nothing new. But sometime in the last year, the NBA decided it had a big ******* problem and started fining the **** out of players. SI senior writer Howard Beck joins us to discuss the league’s war on an excess of expletives. Does the NBA Have a $@&!*% Problem? The Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews  — a Mexican American — became the NHL’s top goal scorer this season. We have the story of his longtime coach, Ukrainian-born Boris Dorozhenko whose fascinating life led him through Mexico and Arizona. Next Generation Hockey Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Sicilian suburb of Librino, an upstart rugby club defies Mafia violence and forges an identity for their community. Sean Williams traveled to the foot of Mount Etna and brought back the story of Briganti di Librino. SI Daily Cover, A Rugby Club Vs. the Mafia | The Underworld Podcast With rumors swirling that Urban Meyer is set to take a job at Fox, everyone, including Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, is taking shots at Meyer’s short and disastrous stint on the NFL sidelines. SI staffer Conor Orr is here to review the long list of problems that led to Meyer being fired after just 13 games. Article, Urban Meyer Is Bringing Nothing to the Jaguars When Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant suffered a knee injury against the Warriors, he was playing some of the best basketball of anyone in the playoffs — continuing on his incredible season. SI staffer Michael Pina joins us to discuss Ja’s leap to superstardom. Daily Cover, Behind Ja Morant’s Sudden Ascent to NBA SuperstardomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kentucky Derby is this weekend, but one of the sport’s most notable—and notorious—figures won’t be there. Bob Baffert has had more than 30 of his horses fail drug tests and was subsequently banned from Churchill Downs for two years due to doping allegations. Sports Illustrated senior writer Pat Forde joins us to discuss the controversial horse trainer. Pat Forde on SI.com The Netflix show Cheer took viewers inside the world of competitive cheerleading and made stars out of its athletes and coaches. Our producer Jess Yarmosky sits down with the Queen of Cheer, Monica Aldama, to discuss winning her latest national championship and the sport’s explosion in popularity. Cheer on Netflix | Cheer Tour | 2022 Navarro College winning routine MLB teams are using the shift more than ever. SI staffer Emma Baccellieri explains why that is, why the shift is so effective—and why baseball is changing the rules next season. The Last Hurrah of Infield Shifts Follow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, the NFL said an investigation found "no evidence" to support the allegations of tanking made by former Browns head coach Hue Jackson. The team went 3-36-1 during Jackson's stint with the team and he believes the Browns front office should share some of that blame. Despite the league investigation clearing the Browns, that doesn't mean the team is innocent of the accusations made against the franchise. SI Staffers Conor Orr and Gary Gramling reviewed more than 1000 documents pertaining to the case. Unsurprisingly, they reached some very different conclusions than the NFL. Hear Conor and Gary on The MMQB Podcast @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NFL draft is upon us, and ESPN’s Mina Kimes joins us for a primer on the big event happening in Las Vegas. The Mina Kimes Show Featuring Lenny When Troy Aikman left Fox for ESPN, it set off a chain reaction in the NFL broadcast booth for multiple networks. Jimmy Traina, host of the SI Media Podcast, breaks down the game of musical chairs involving Al Michaels, Joe Buck and more. Sports Illustrated Media Podcast WNBA star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for two months. We have a report from Howard Megdal on Griner’s situation and how it has impacted the way women’s basketball operates. Daily Cover, How Russia Pushed the WNBA to a Crossroads Follow @podcasts_si & @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 3rd of last year, Gene Siller went to work at the Pinetree Country Club to help staff set up for Independence Day celebrations. Unfortunately, he never made it back home, leaving his wife without a husband and his kids without a father. The story made headlines at the time, but none have gone as deep as a new piece from Sports Illustrated contributing writer Brian Burnsed. Article, He Followed His Golf Dream. In the End, It Was a Nightmare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best-selling author Michael Lewis is here some 20 years after he began the reporting on Moneyball. Season 3 of his podcast Against the Rules is titled “The Ballad of Expertise.”  Podcast, Against the Rules SI senior writer Michael Rosenberg reads his essay on how authoritarian regimes like China, Russia and Saudi Arabia use sports for their political benefit, also known as sportswashing. Daily Cover, Sportswashing Is Everywhere, but It’s Not New Whether or not you drink coffee, you’re probably not nearly as into it as Jimmy Butler. SI staffer Rohan Nadkarni tells us just how much the Heat star really loves coffee. Article, Jimmy Butler, the NBA's Biggest Coffee Aficionado Follow @podcasts_si & @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NBA playoffs are here, and we have our Eastern and Western Conference playoff previews. Get comfortable for our extended and extensive conversation with SI senior writers Chris Mannix and Howard Beck. Mannix and Beck on The Crossover podcast Barely a year removed from a car crash that could have killed him, Tiger Woods surprised a lot of people by playing in the Masters. SI senior writer Stephanie Apstein joins us for her report on how Woods looked at Augusta. Article, Tiger Woods Recognizes This Masters Was One of His Great Achievements—Among Non-Wins Follow @podcasts_si | Follow @JohnGonzalezSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major League Baseball has its Opening Day on Thursday. We have the SI baseball braintrust gathered for a roundtable: senior writers Tom Verducci and Stephanie Apstein and editor Matt Martell. They’ll tell us what’s exciting about this season, what’s wrong with baseball, and what’s changed forever after the lockout. Sports Illustrated MLB coverage | @si_mlb on Twitter With the nightly implosion of LeBron’s Lakers, HBO lures us into Showtime-era nostalgia with their hit-in-waiting, Winning Time. We welcome Jordan Ligons of the Spinsters podcast and The Ringer’s TV critic Alison Herman to answer a simple question: Is Winning Time any good? And is anyone watching? HBO Max | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (YouTube) Dirk Nowitzki entered the NBA in 1998 with no shortage of hype. Twenty-one seasons later, collecting an MVP award in 2007 and the Larry O’Brien trophy with a Finals MVP in ’11, it’s safe to say he lived up to the hype and then some. Howard Beck had Dirk on The Crossover podcast and took a few minutes to ask about his history with SI. SI Vault: Fast Developing After A Rookie Year in Which the Negatives Prevailed, the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki Looks Like a Budding Star by Jon Wertheim The Great Nowitzki: Basketball and the Meaning of Life by Thomas PletzingerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments each feature 64 teams—and 64 mascots. But while you might have love for your school, Conor Orr has consulted with Dr. Hopi Hoekstra, noted mammalogist at Harvard University, and he’s here to tell you why your mascot is a lie. SI Daily Cover: Fuzzy Logic by Hopi Hoekstra and Conor Orr The South Carolina Gamecocks are one of the best teams in women’s basketball, and they’re once again headed back to the Final Four. SI staffer Wilton Jackson talked to star player Aliyah Boston on the quest for a championship, her journey from Saint Thomas to South Carolina and her ever-changing personal style. Article: She Wanted a Scholarship. Now She’s the Face of Women’s College Basketball Finally, the story of one lucky college basketball gambler who turned a single $25 parlay bet into more than $237,000. We call him the Parlay King of New Jersey. @podcasts_si on Twitter | SI.com/podcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With DeShaun Watson being traded to the Cleveland Browns, former Sports Illustrated staffer Jenny Vrentas, now a reporter for The New York Times, walks us through her reporting on the controversial quarterback and the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. SI Daily Cover: A Massage Therapist on Her Session With Deshaun Watson SI Daily Cover: The Problems in the Deshaun Watson Cases Go Beyond Deshaun Watson Jenny Vrentas’s reporting for The New York Times After Russia invaded, thousands of Ukrainians who weren’t in the armed forces took up arms to defend their country—including several current and former professional athletes. One of them was recently retired tennis star Sergiy Stakhovsky. We spoke with Stakhovsky, as well as SI senior writer Jon Wertheim, about what it’s been like for Ukrainian athletes who’ve joined the fight. SI Article: Alex Dolgopolov, From ATP to Defending Ukraine: ‘Maybe I’ll Be Killed, Maybe I Have to Kill’ Finally, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice stops by to tell us about all the times he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, his new SI NFTs and what it’s like to be the GOAT after all the years. SI’s first NFT collection featuring Jerry Rice Get in touch with us on Twitter at @podcasts_siSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NCAA women's swimming and diving championships begin today in Atlanta and all eyes are on University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Robert Sanchez and Julie Kliegman join us to discuss the coverage, conversations and controversy surrounding Thomas and her rise to the top of women’s collegiate swimming. We’ll also hear exclusively from Lia Thomas in her own words. Daily Cover: ‘I Am Lia’: The Trans Swimmer Dividing America Tells Her Story by Robert Sanchez Daily Cover: Why Can't Luc Play? by Julie Kliegman With March Madness upon us, SI’s Kevin Sweeney explains why tiny Coppin State played almost all its games away from home this season. It’s the story of a never-ending season-long road trip that included 400-mile bus rides, 50-point losses and someone forgetting to pack their jerseys. Daily Cover: The College Road Trip From Hell by Kevin Sweeney Former SI staffer Grant Wahl is here to tell us how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has impacted the world of soccer, from Chelsea FC’s financial strictures to Vladimir Putin’s “sportswashing” and FIFA finally being forced to shut the door on Russia. Read Grant at GrantWahl.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With March Madness around the corner, Sports Illustrated senior writer Pat Forde tells us the story of Merl Code, a former sneaker executive who claims the biggest recruits to the biggest programs are all getting paid. We take you inside the scandal that rocked college basketball. Article: Merl Code Peels Back the Curtain on College Basketball’s Bribery Scandal by Pat Forde The fourth season of Netflix’s smash hit Formula 1: Drive to Survive drops this weekend. Formula One reporter and digital presenter Will Buxton joins us to explain how the show’s surprise success in the U.S. has created countless new fans and helped grow the sport. Article: Through the Fire and Flames by Shaker Samman Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network fills us in on the fallout over Falcons wideout Calvin Ridley and his season-long suspension for gambling. Article: Calvin Ridley’s Suspension Is NFL Business As Usual by Conor Orr Special thanks to Sean Sullivan of Yahoo Sports for the Merl Code audio. It originally appeared on the College Football Enquirer podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making it to the NBA is a dream come true. But for members of a small group, it also means playing exactly one minute and one minute only, before never playing in the league again. Sports Illustrated staff writer Ben Pickman tells the tale of perhaps the most exclusive and heartbreaking club in all of pro sports.SI Daily Cover: In It for a Minute by Ben PickmanJJ Redick is here to discuss the fallout from his Zion Williamson comments and what it was like to play with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and to share memories of Coach K as he eyes his final big dance.SI Vault: Boo Devil by Grant WahlFormer All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith, Sr. talks about the first time he was in Sports Illustrated for another edition of “Who Where They Then?”SI Vault: Steve Smith Rules by Greg BishopGet in touch @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Nolan is a TV personality who just finished covering the Olympics for NBC and Peacock. Katie joins our host John Gonzalez for a wide-ranging conversation that includes the Russian figure skating doping controversy, how we talk about athletes when they struggle with mental health issues, how she recently came to my rescue on Twitter and what’s next for her career.Clip: Kate Nolan tries figure skating on PeacockThe Olympics are over, but before SI senior writer Stephanie Apstein left Beijing, she reported a rather amusing story. Stephanie spoke to a whole host of Winter Olympians with one surprising thing in common: how much they really hate being cold.SI Daily Cover: ‘It’s a Necessary Evil of Doing a Snow Sport’Emma Baccellieri is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated who covers Major League Baseball. She’s also a fan of the Sex and the City reboot. And while MLB is still mired in a lockout, the show And Just Like That took Emma down an entertaining baseball rabbit hole that prompted her to solve an unexpected mystery.SI Daily Cover: How ‘Sex and the City’ Sent Me Down a Fake Baseball Rabbit HoleFollow @podcasts_si | @JohnGonzalez Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Stafford and the Rams are Super Bowl champions. But before they even got to the big game, there were whispers and rumors about the legendary trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, that ended up with Stafford being traded from Detroit to L.A. Sports Illustrated senior writer Greg Bishop pulls back the curtain and explains how a joint vacation and the fate of  an unusual L.A. rainstorm changed the Rams’ fortunes and altered the course of NFL history.Related: How the Rams Got Away, Found One Another, Then Found a Way by Greg Bishop and Conor OrrPop culture and sports collide when actor-comedian Ben Schwartz and SI senior writer Chris Herring join us to discuss Chris’s new book, Blood in the Garden, our shared love of the ’90s NBA and the state of the Knicks franchise.Excerpt: Blood in the GardenBen Simmons and James Harden were part of a blockbuster trade during last week’s deadline. But how will Simmons look on the Nets? And will Harden finally make the Sixers a championship contender? Host John Gonzalez is joined by friends and former coworkers Haley O’Shaughnessy of the Spinsters podcast and Dan Devine of The Ringer for a reunion deep dive.Podcast: John Gonzalez on Spinsters Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend, Super Bowl LVI descends on Inglewood, Calif., and gleaming SoFi Stadium. For NFL fans with money to burn, this is the party of a lifetime. For the residents who never got a vote on this stadium, they’re left to deal with the aftermath. In conversations with residents, business owners, the mayor and more, our host John Gonzalez went to Inglewood to learn first-hand what’s happening to the people who live, work and worship there as so much in their city changes.Related story: SI Daily Cover: The True Price of SoFi StadiumWhen Brian Flores filed his recent lawsuit against the NFL and three teams, it yet again placed the spotlight on the league’s failure to hire Black candidates into its highest ranks of leadership. Despite 20 years of the Rooney Rule, GQ staff writer Tyler Tynes tells us why he’s not surprised at the current state of affairs and why this landmark lawsuit is about so much more than Brian Flores.Related story: The Ringer: ”You’re Going to Have to Run Faster”: How Football Neglects Black Coaches”Chris Wesseling, known to his friends as “Wess,” was a host of the popular Around the NFL podcast. A lifelong Bengals fan, Wess would have relished a Super Bowl matchup with his wife Lakisha’s favorite Rams. Sadly, Wess died of cancer last year. His wife and ATN co-hosts Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler join John and his wife, Colleen Wolfe, of the NFL Network, to mark one year since Wess died and honor their dear friend.Related story: Cincinnati Enquirer: Chris Wesseling, NFL.com writer and podcaster from Cincinnati, dies at 46SI.com/podcasts | twitter.com/podcasts_si Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Jackson grew up competing in inline skating and roller derby as a rink rat in Ocala, Fla. Now, she’s America’s best hope for gold in long-track speed skating at the Winter Olympics. Considered a sure bet to make the U.S. team, Jackson slipped during qualifying and nearly missed the games until a fateful decision made by her childhood idol, Brittany Bowe, gave her a ticket to back to the Olympics. Senior writer Stephanie Apstein wrote SI’s cover story on Erin Jackson and tells us about her incredible journey from Florida to Beijing.SI Cover story: Erin Jackson Is Ready to Make a Statement on IceAs the sports spotlight shifts to Beijing, not all invited guests are showing up to the party. Along with Great Britain, Canada and Australia, the United States is enacting a “diplomatic boycott” of the Beijing games, which means no government officials will attend, though athletes will still compete. With critics like French President Emmanuel Macron dismissing these efforts as “insignificant,” Ben Rhodes is here to tell us why the conversation around these Beijing games is already very different from 2008, the last time China hosted the Olympics. Rhodes served as deputy national security adviser for the Obama administration, and he’s cohost of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the World.Follow SI Olympics CoverageBefore Michael Vick was a household name, he was a kid focused on football growing up in Newport News, Va. It’s at nearby Virginia Tech where SI first caught a glimpse of his star on the rise. Vick describes what life was like when he stood on the brink of being selected first in the 2001 NFL draft, fulfilling his and his family’s wildest dreams.SI Vault: Virginia Tech's Michael Vick Is a Marvel Without an Ego Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NBA star Shawn Bradley was living out an idyllic retirement in Utah until one day a tragic bike ride left him paralyzed when a driver hit him from behind. SI contributing writer Brian Burnsed is here to tell us how Bradley; his wife, Carrie; and their family have been forever changed by this experience.SI Daily Cover: Life After 7'6": Shawn Bradley, Paralyzed in a Bike Crash, Knows ‘It’ll Never Be the Same’Quarterbacks study the game of football and their competitors incessantly, so when a standout performer like Aaron Rogers develops a “foot pop” or Lamar Jackson starts bending his throws around defenders, players are bound to copy their moves. SI staff writer and mad genius Conor Orr delivers a treatise on the evolutionary development of quarterbacks with some solid blocking by world-renowned biologists from Harvard University.SI Cover story: In the Throws of ChangeOn the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death, we welcome Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, whose new book delves into what Kobe was like as a young phenom before he became a basketball legend. Sielski joins us to tell the entertaining story behind the unlikely college that almost landed Kobe before he decided to jump straight to the NBA. Excerpt, The Ones Kobe Left Behind Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Sports Illustrated Weekly, where we gather the best sports stories from inside and outside the pages of SI and deliver them to you in audio form every Wednesday.+ Our premiere tips off with SI Senior Writer Howard Beck who reports on the Golden State Warriors rebooting their dynasty with young players and an elite core still in its prime. Read: “The Warriors’ Quest to Achieve What Other Dynasties Couldn’t”, “The Fire That Burns Inside Klay Thompson”+ Then, SI Senior Writer Jon Wertheim walks us through a conversation with Tom Brady on the occasion of receiving our Sportsperson of the Year award for the second time. After 22 years in the NFL, is Brady's career worth another look? And could the GOAT actually play until he’s 50? Read: “2021 Sportsperson of the Year: Tom Brady”+ Finally, NFL legend Joe Thomas describes what it meant for him to be profiled in the pages of Sports Illustrated as a young offensive lineman. Read: “Old School” by Peter King, April 23, 2007Read SI.com and get in touch with us on Twitter at @podcasts_si. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing the new flagship podcast from Sports Illustrated. Storytelling, interviews, unforgettable sports moments – SI Weekly is everything you love about the iconic sports magazine, now in podcast form. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.