Edge of Sports

Latest Episodes:

Hidden History: The Civil Rights Movement and the Black Athlete May 19, 2020

Show notes

This week's show is a talk I did with educator and author Jesse Hagopian about the history of Black athletes and their intersection with the Civil Rights Movement. We go through the famous hidden stories of people like Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali as well as people you may never have heard of like Wyomia Tyus and Rose Robinson. The event was put on by the Zinn Education Project.
Jesse Hagopian is an award-winning educator and a leading voice on issues of educational equity, the school-to-prison-pipeline, standardized testing, the Black Lives Matter at School movement, and social justice unionism. He is an editor for Rethinking Schools magazine, an author, public speaker, organizer, and Ethnic Studies teacher at Seattle’s Garfield High School – the site of the historic teacher boycott of the MAP test in 2013.
Jesse is the co-editor of the new book, Teaching for Black Lives, and is the editor of the book, More Than a Score: The New Uprising Against High-Stakes Testing. His writing has been published in numerous books including 101 Changemakers: Rebels and Radicals Who Changed US History, Education and Capitalism: Struggles for Learning and Liberation, Why We Teach Now, and Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove’s Voices of a People’s History of the United States.
https://www.zinnedproject.org/
https://iamaneducator.com
Jesse Hagopian Twitter: @JessedHagopian
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Scoop Jackson Makes it Plain May 11, 2020

Show notes

This week we talk to Scoop Jackson, author of the new book, The Game is Not a Game: The Power, Protest and Politics of American Sports. We talk to Scoop about the book, Scoop’s native Chicago, and the Last Dance documentary.
We also have some Choice Words about the NFL’s willingness to play a vital role in Trump’s reelection campaign by trying very hard to start the season back as fast as possible. In addition, we have Just Stand Up and Just Sit Down awards to LeBron James for speaking out about the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia by white vigilantes and all the talking heads clearly looking for attention with their absurd takes this week. We also got a brand new Kaepernick Watch. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Scoop Jackson https://www.amazon.com/Game-Not-Protest-Politics-American/dp/1642590967 Twitter: @ibescoopjackson
Zirin, The NFL Is Now Part of Trump’s Reelection Project https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nfl-season-coronavirus-espn/
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Ghosts of Dodger Stadium May 04, 2020

Show notes

This week we talk to Eric Nusbaum, author of the new book, “Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between.” We talk to him about his new book, the history of how Dodger Stadium came to be, and the displacement of people of color in the process of building it.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the NCAA and the prospect of college football coming this fall as well as its decision to announce support for college athletes to sign endorsement deals. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to former Bulls sharpshooter Craig Hodges, who has been erased from the Last Dance documentary but remains an important part of the early Bulls championship teams and some ESPN announcers who are saying, “Gosh, I’m seeing a different side of Jordan” in the wake of the documentary. We also got a brand new Kaepernick Watch featuring an announcement from me! All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Eric Nusbaum https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/eric-nusbaum/stealing-home/9781541742192/ Twitter: @ericnus
Zirin, The NCAA Is Poised to Allow Players to Benefit From Their Labor https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ncaa-players-pay/
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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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The Myth and Reality of Black Consumer Power Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

This week we talk to Jared Ball, professor of Communication Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore. We talk to him about his new book, The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power, the history of the concept, and its connection to black radical politics.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about The Last Dance for its uncritical look at Michael Jordan, and it’s lopsided attack on Jerry Krause. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to the 1st draft pick of the 2020 draft, Joe Burrow, for using his platform to talk about poverty, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league for the way they presented the NFL Draft, particularly the self-serving celebration of first responders. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Jared Ball https://imixwhatilike.org/category/the-myth-of-black-buying-power/ Twitter: @IMIXWHATILIKE
Zirin, The Unfortunate Ugliness of ‘The Last Dance’ https://www.thenation.com/article/society/michael-jordan-last-dance/
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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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Jordan’s Last Dance Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

This week we talk to friend of the show Michael Lee to talk about Last Dance, a documentary on Michael Jordan and the ’98 Chicago Bulls. We talk about the NBA of the ‘90s, Michael Jordan’s drive to be great, and why people continue to be fascinated by MJ.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about WWE and its decision to resume live programming in the midst of the coronavirus. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Megan Rapinoe for her fantastic livestream with W. Kamau Bell and Trump’s committee to reopen sports. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Michael Lee https://theathletic.com/1752209/2020/04/17/sports-take-a-back-seat-why-basketball-africa-league-was-first-to-cancel-games/ Twitter: @MrMichaelLee
Zirin, Trump’s Sports Advisers Represent the Worst of the Sports World https://www.thenation.com/article/society/trump-sports-advisory-coronavirus/
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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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Coronavirus In "The Other DC" Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

This week we take a sidestep from sports and talk to Maurice Cook from the Ward 6 Mutual Aid Network. We talk about coronavirus’ impact on DC, how it’s affected people of color in the city, and what can be done about it.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the dystopian plans to reopen the sports world that are floating around right now. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Jalen Rose on the anniversary of his shellacking of Skip Bayless and Maven Media for their decision to fire friend of the show Grant Wahl and their pathetic decision to slander him on his way out. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Maurice Cook https://www.serveyourcitydc.org/ Twitter: @mcSYCdc
Zirin, The Plans to Bring Sports Back Are Truly Dystopian https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ufc-baseball-arizona-coronavirus/
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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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Grant Wahl on Soccer's Place In a Coronavirus World Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

This week we speak to the preeminent soccer journalist in the United States, Grant Wahl, about the role of soccer amidst the coronavirus pandemic. We talk about coronavirus, an update on USA women’s soccer lawsuit for equal pay, and more.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the bribery scandal that should be rocking the IOC. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to members of the FC Barcelona team for taking pay cuts to help club employees, and people making racist attacks on sports journalist Jemele Hill. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Grant Wahl https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCae1JCaKGwUV_x6OAaP5blg/featured Twitter: @GrantWahl Zirin & Boykoff, A Bribery Scandal Hits the ‘2020’ Tokyo Olympics https://www.thenation.com/article/world/tokyo-olympics-bribery-scandal/
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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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Esports: The Only Game In Town Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

This week we speak to Rod “Slasher” Breslau, and Erin Ashley Simon, two experts on Esports. We speak to them about the impact of coronavirus on Esports, the political economy of the sport, and why traditional sports fans that aren’t on board yet should give them a look.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the activist athlete in the time of coronavirus. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Joel Embiid for both donating money to employees of Sixers while implicitly shaming team ownership to do the same, and Tilman Fertitta, Houston Rockets owner, for furloughing 40,000 employees and downplaying COVID-19 among other heinous actd. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Erin Ashley Simon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCae1JCaKGwUV_x6OAaP5blg/featured Twitter: @erinasimon
Rod Breslau https://www.facebook.com/Breslau Twitter: @Slasher
Zirin, Athlete Activists Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-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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“If I knew the answers I’d run for President.” Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

This week we speak to NBA veteran Wilson Chandler about how he is maintaining amid the pandemic as well as his experience playing on basketball’s biggest stage, his stint in China, and the rhetoric of Donald Trump.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the Coronavirus and athletes. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Jeremy Lin for calling out Trump for racist rhetoric and the IOC for dragging their feet on doing the right thing and cancelling the 2020 Olympic games. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Wilson Chandler https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/wilson-chandler-the-iso-brooklyn-nets Twitter: @wilsonchandler
Zirin, Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp Shines Amid the Coronavirus Crisis https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-liverpool-jurgen-klopp/
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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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The Rise and Fall (And Possible Rise Again) of the Warriors Dynasty Mar 09, 2020

Show notes

This week we talk to ace NBA journalist Ethan Sherwood Strauss about his new book The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty. We talk to Ethan about that Warriors dynasty, Kevin Durant, and the price of success.
We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the Coronavirus and sports. In addition, we have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to the players of the NFL fighting for fair contracts and egomaniacal Knicks owner James Dolan. All that and more on this week’s Edge of Sports!
Ethan Sherwood Strauss https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/ethan-sherwood-strauss/the-victory-machine/9781541736214/ Twitter: @SherwoodStrauss
Zirin, The Coronavirus Is Coming for Professional Sports https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-nba-sports/
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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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