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5. The Consolation Debate Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

This week on the Bill Bradley Collective, the hosts weigh in on the Vice Presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris. In assessing the performance of incumbent, candidate and moderator, the panel uses the 1965 NCAA Tournament consolation game and collegiate adieu of our very namesake as the guide for evaluation. While the debate mirrored Princeton’s 36-point evisceration of Wichita State to the respective advantage of Sen. Harris, how her showing stands up to that of Bill Bradley’s 58-point masterclass is just one example of what to expect from the conversation. But first the rants do cometh, where two-thirds of our body give HBO a bit of free pub, as Zak critiques the cultural efficacy of Aaron Sorkin’s narrative political prose leading into this week’s not-so-eagerly anticipated “The West Wing” reunion/reprisal special, Andrew examines the troublingly generous tenor of a new documentary centering the life and crimes of a a disgraced New York radio show host, and finally Ed presents the vile personal and political history of a Trump senior adviser who somehow remains a fixture on cable news/interview programming.

4. The 1st Presidential Debate (finally) Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

This week on the Bill Bradley Collective, the hosts break down the first Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The virtually nonexistent good, largely bad and often ugly highlights of this spectacle are the focus of a conversation that attempts to gauge the respective performance of each candidate, as well as moderator Chris Wallace. Before we assess the debate, Zak outlines how to expect the Senate to proceed with regard to Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, in light of the White House COVID outbreak that enveloped not only Trump but a considerable swath of GOP leadership including three senators. But first come the rants, where Zak salutes Ed’s esteemed prior tenure as Subway franchise baker in the wake of a curious Irish court ruling, Ed condemns the toxic fallacy of the “warrior” mentality with a special nod to the straw man heading the New York Jets and Andrew considers the NFL’s head-scratching decisions following the league’s first collection of positive COVID tests.

3. Trump, Sports, COVID Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

This week on the Bill Bradley Collective, the hosts examine Donald Trump’s efforts from high atop his Twitter pulpit to influence how our sporting landscape navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. A concentrated nod to Trump’s perceived-electorally expedient (and answered) call on the Big 10 to salvage their previously-aborted college football season sets the table for a discussion that attempts to hammer home how every amoral machination from 45’s mouth and cell-phone as it regards to sports comes solely in the interest of retaining his position post-November 3rd. First the rants, as Zak gives a precursor to the election-oriented content coming your way from the Collective with a preview of what to watch for this week as Trump and Joe Biden share the stage for the 1st of their three debates, Ed (and Zak with some real venom) blast away in the direction of failson Matt Lieberman, the latest in his lineage to disgrace the Democratic Party and the most likely recipient of a thank-you card from the desk of Kelly Loeffler five weeks from now, and Andrew gives an update on Colby Covington’s place in the worst-person-in-sports hierarchy following his latest audition for the position of America’s Next Top Sycophant.

Profile - Tommie Smith & John Carlos Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

On the first of our intra-season bonus episodes, the Bill Bradley Collective discuss the history and legacy of Tommie Smith and John Carlos and their black-glove fisted salute whilst on the medal podium during the 1968 Summer Olympics. Regarded as one of the most influential and overtly political declarations made in Olympic history, the gesture drew wrongful condemnation from many in the moment, but has become the impetus for the national anthem statements made in the name of social and racial justice in our contemporary sports landscape. The societal context of the salute, 1968 in the crucible of the Civll rights movement in America; and the Olympic Project for Human Rights that brought about the podium demonstration kickstart a conversation that examines the lives and legacies of Smith and Carlos, their detractors and supporters, and the integral role that their statement has long-played in forging a 2020 where by the day sports and politics grow increasingly intertwined.

2. Who are these books aimed at? Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

This week on the Bill Bradley Collective, the hosts examine the complicated nature of the “tell-all” book, from the three narrative perspectives of insider, embedded journalist, and outside reporter. These tell-all documents represent a significant, in-demand segment of the sport and political publishing arenas, most recently brought to public focus in the wake of books detailing the Trump presidency from John Bolton, Michael Cohen and veteran journalist Bob Woodward, of which the latter’s grim details regarding presidential (and perhaps journalistic) inaction sit at the forefront of our current news cycle. But first the rants, where Andrew applauds Len Elmore’s takedown of increased “shut up and dribble” bullshit following the NFL’s season opener, Zak goes in on GOP wonder-boy and doofus par excellence Ben Sasse after his inglorious turn on the WSJ editorial page, and Ed targets billionaire entrepreneur and right-wing donor/bootlicker emeritus Peter Thiel for his latest bit of dangerous grift with a nod to his already vastly sordid résumé.

1. The Day (most) Sports Stood Still Sep 08, 2020

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On the season three premier of the Bill Bradley Collective, the hosts examine protest in sports within the broader context of the national movement. As the NBA, followed by the NHL and select MLB teams, withheld their professional services following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, the panel discusses the actions of these athletes, how their response was covered by the sports and mainstream media, their role in the national protest movement for racial equality and social justice, and most importantly, what comes next. But first the rants, where Zak implores the “anonymous” sources leaking out the many Trump improprieties to own their truth and put name to tape, Ed challenges the professional and personal merits of latest Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and self-believed paragon of Catholic virtue Lou Holtz, and Andrew reflects on the legacy of the late Tom Seaver and how Mets ownership deserves neither legends of his stature nor the voices for social reform occupying their clubhouse today. Come for the conversation, enjoy the rants, but stick around as one host is officially set to pop his tattoo cherry, while the others engage in some truly horrific karaoke.

The Best of Season 2 Sep 05, 2020

Show notes

For the best of season two of the Bill Bradley Collective, we highlight a pair of profiles in ignominy, as Zak rakes departed Trump NSA John Bolton for his self-serving swing for the Times’ best-seller list and Ed debuts his vitriol for disreputable GA Senator and Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler that underscores much of this season. Lastly for rants, Andrew fires from his wheel-house with a portrait of the golfer as a young man, mercurial pro Haotong Li. No main subject perhaps better encompasses the essence of this podcast, so revisit our discussion on the “sportification” of news media; how respective coverage of sports and politics has come to mirror one another for better and for worse. Stay tuned for season three of the Bill Bradley Collective.

B3. Draft: The Worst People in Politics Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

On our third and final post-season two bonus episode, the Bill Bradley Collective draft whom we consider to be the worst of the worst amongst elected officials in American politics. *Elected* members of both houses of Congress, state Governors and mayors of major U.S. cities are all on the board. In the interest of bipartisanship, both parties are up for rightful condemnation, as no less than two Democrats and Republicans each of the six respective choices are required. Coming to you from the cul-de-sac of legislative, state and municipal government, engage us on Facebook with any thoughts on our picks and your case for anyone we may have missed, and please stay tuned for season three of the Bill Bradley Collective.

B2. Draft: Best Sports Movies Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

For the second of our post-season two bonus episodes, the Bill Bradley Collective play Siskel & Ebert as we draft the best of the best from the sports movie canon. Six movies each, structured identical to last week’s draft of sport’s worst people, the panel revisit (and disparage) some classics, stump for some controversial and lesser known selections and consider just how much “sport” is required for qualification to this process. For the first time coming to you from the rotary of sports, politics and Hollywood, we invite you to join us on Facebook and give us your thoughts on the picks, any movies we may have missed, and which of our contrarian dismissals of an otherwise lauded film offended you most.

B1. Draft: The Worst People in Sports Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

For our first post-season 2 bonus episode, the members of the Bill Bradley Collective draft teams comprised of whom we deem to be the worst people in sports. Join us as we outline detailed cases for why 18 certain individuals (athletes, owners and broadcasters, among them) all in their own way represent the worst of our society. Be sure to join us on Facebook and weigh in with your vote for which of our three drafted teams reflects the best of the downright worst in sports. The stakes are very high.

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