Edge of Sports

Latest Episodes:

Playing Through Fire: Athletes in an Age of Reaction Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

Social movements tend to arise within the world of sports during periods of upsurge and upheaval. But what about times of authoritarianism, dictatorship, or even fascism? What is the social role of the athlete during periods of reaction?

I recently had the pleasure of giving a talk at the 2022 Socialism conference in Chicago, where I addressed all of these questions. This week's episode of the Edge of Sports podcast is a recording of that talk.

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Zirin, Sue Bird Sets a Standard and Says Goodbye to the WNBA

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/sue-bird-retirement-wnba/

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Soccer’s Impact on the Middle East Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

This week we talk to Prof. Abdullah Al-Arian, editor of the new book Football in the Middle East about everything from the Qatari World Cup to Palestinian soccer and resistance.

We also have “Choice Words” about Serena Williams's retirement, incredible longevity, and unsurpassed dominance in her sport. We also have “Just Stand Up” and “Just Sit Down” awards to the NBA for taking a stand and providing calendar space for voting on the midterms this year and their attempt at controlling the tenor of politics coming out of the league. All that and more on this episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast!

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David Maraniss On the Politics of Jim Thorpe Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

This week we speak to David Maraniss, one of the great journalists of our time, who has written a new book on the extremely well-known but frankly little-known athletic superstar Jim Thorpe and what he faced as a trailblazing indigenous athlete.

We also have Choice Words about the 100th birthday of the legendary Rachel Robinson. We also have a Just Stand Up award for South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston for calling out ESPN’s disrespect of women athletes and we have Just Sit Down awards for the Cleveland Browns, who have cast their loss with Deshaun Watson and seem to have no shame about it. All that and more on this episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast!

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David Maraniss

Twitter: @davidmaraniss

https://davidmaraniss.com/library/path-lit-by-lightning-the-life-of-jim-thorpe/

Zirin, Aliyah Boston Makes ESPN Look Small

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/aliyah-boston-espn/

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http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

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This Is America With Howard Bryant Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

This week we speak to author Howard Bryant about his recent column on the state of this country as well as his new book on the great Rickey Henderson. We talk about the Supreme Court, where the country is headed, and why Rickey Henderson continues to be a captivating figure, decades after his retirement.

We also have Choice Words about developments on the Brittney Griner case in Russia. We also have a Just Stand Up award to Megan Rapinoe, who seems to be a perennial winner of this award. All that and more on this episode of The Edge of Sports Podcast!

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Howard Bryant

Twitter: @hbryant42

https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/34186311/baseball-barbecue-losing-freedom-fourth-july

Zirin, Brittney Griner’s Show Trial Begins

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/brittney-griner-russia-trial/

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http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

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50 Years of Title IX Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

This week we speak to Kim Turner, the Director of the Gender Equity Initiative at the national nonprofit Positive Coaching Alliance about the impact of Title IX and how much further we have to go.

We also have “Choice Words” about the new Saudi golfing tour and the hypocrisy of guys like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson who have jumped on. We also have an update on Brittney Griner's case and more.

Kimberly Turner

https://positivecoach.org/team/turner-kim/

Zirin, Golfers Gonna Golf

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/golf-pga-saudi-arabia/

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http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

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On Baseball’s Hidden Resistance Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

This week we talk to Robert Elias, author of two books, Baseball Rebels and Major League Rebels. Both are about hidden histories of resistance athletes in the National Pastime. There is so much interesting and useful history that is so worth checking out.

We have “Choice Words” about the Tampa Bay Rays and Pride Night at the park and the players using religion as cover for their bigotry. We also have “Just Sit Down” awards to former PGA golfer Phil Mickelson, who is leaving the tour to join up with a new Saudi golf venture and appears to have no moral compunction about it. All this and more on this week’s show!

Robert Elias

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496217776/

Zirin, The Tampa Bay Rays, Pride, and the Perils of Corporate Branding

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/tampa-bay-rays-pride/

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http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

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Are Colin Kaepernick and the NFL Going to Reunite? May 30, 2022

Show notes

This week we explore the significance or lack thereof, of Colin Kaepernick's tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders. We also talk about Gabe Kapler's decision to not stand for the anthem. We also have a special Jake's Takes where we discuss the politics of baseball and the lack of African American participation in the sport as well as whether the game is entertaining.

Zirin, Colin Kaepernick Gets His Chance—and It’s Tough to Care

https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/colin-kaepernick-gets-his-chance-and-its-tough-to-care/

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http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

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Toni Smith-Thompson Travels Full Circle May 23, 2022

Show notes

In 2003, a Manhattanville College basketball player named Toni Smith caused a media frenzy when she turned her back on the National Anthem during President Bush’s wars in the Middle East. It was not received well. Now, two decades later, Toni Smith-Thompson was the commencement speaker at the Manhattanville graduation and received an honorary doctorate. We speak to Toni Smith-Thompson about that journey.

In this episode, we have Choice Words about the silence from male athletes when it comes to Brittney Griner’s unjust detainment in Russia. We also have Just Stand Up to the US women’s soccer team for being victorious in their landmark suit for equal pay. We have a Just Sit Down award for sports bloviator Doug Gottlieb, who seems unable to recognize what real racism looks like, let alone a history book. All this and more on this week’s show!

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Toni-Smith Thompson

Twitter: @mstonij

https://www.nyclu.org/en/biographies/toni-smith-thompson

Zirin, The “Brutal Solidarity” Between Buffalo and Palestine

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/solidarity-buffalo-palestine/

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Michael Lee on the Fall of the 76ers May 16, 2022

Show notes

The collapse of the Philadelphia 76ers has been one of the more curious dramas in sports. We speak to Michael Lee of the Washington Post about what the hell happened and what the ramifications are going forward. We also have Choice Words about athletes and the fight for abortion rights.

We have Just Stand Up and Just Sit Down awards, an update on Brittney Griner’s case, and much more on this week's show!

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

Michael Lee

Twitter: @MrMichaelLee

https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/michael-lee/

Zirin, On Abortion Rights, the Athletes Will Not Save Us

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/abortion-rights-athletes/

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http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

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David Dennis, Jr. on “The Movement Made Us” May 09, 2022

Show notes

This week we speak to Andscape’s David Dennis Jr. about his new book “The Movement Made Us: A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride.” We talk about his writing process, his father’s influence over both the book and his life as well as his upbringing in the home of a Civil Rights legend.

We have Choice Words about the overdue change in strategy in efforts to secure the release of jailed WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia. We have Just Stand Up awards for folks speaking loudly about the current assault on reproductive rights in this country and for former NBA player and ESPN analyst, JJ Redick, who called out the racist remarks of a fellow host. We have Just Sit Down awards for Tennessee Titans coach, Mike Vrabel for his involvement in a Trump rally. All that and more on this week’s show!

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

David Dennis, Jr.

Twitter: @DavidDTSS

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-movement-made-us-david-j-dennis-jrdavid-j-dennis-sr

Zirin, Finally a Change of Strategy in the Push for Brittney Griner’s Freedom

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/brittney-griner-russia-prisoner/

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http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

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