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Sweat, Grit, and The Pandemic: How The Women’s Tour de France Was Born Jul 27, 2022

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The Tour de France wrapped up in Paris this past Sunday, along the famous Champs-Elysées. And on that very same day, on that very same road, something historic happened -- a Women's Tour de France began. Today, reporter Maggie Mertens explains why it took nearly 120 years for the world's most famous cycling competition to finally offer a truly professional women’s stage race, and how it was born from the sweat and determination of many women – with a big assist from an online game company. Then, South African pro cyclist Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio joins us from France, where she is currently competing in the Tour, and is fresh off a podium finish.

Read Maggie Mertens's full story about the history of the Women's Tour de France.

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Starting Five: Aaron Judge’s Quiet Home Run Record Chase Jul 25, 2022

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Plus: U.S. track and field’s newest supernova blows away the competition And cycling’s newest rivalry comes with a side of sportsmanship.

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‘Buffalo Just Chose Me’: How Von Miller Landed With The Bills Jul 21, 2022

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This spring, eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller announced that he was leaving the reigning Super Bowl champions — the L.A. Rams — to join the Buffalo Bills. It was a decision that surprised a lot of people, and also one that almost didn’t happen. Today, The Athletic’s Dan Pompei tells us why Miller ultimately chose upstate New York over the bright lights of Hollywood, and about the gut check moment when he ultimately decided to follow through with the big decision.

Read Dan Pompei’s full story about Von Miller joining the Bills: https://theathletic.com/3387676/2022/07/07/von-miller-bills-rams-broncos/

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The Power Of Community: Naomi Girma’s Rise To Soccer Stardom Jul 20, 2022

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Fans of the U.S. women's national soccer team have been hearing the same names for quite a few years. But now, a new generation of players is starting to take over. Today, reporter Gwendolyn Oxenham gives us an inside look at one of those up-and-coming stars -- 22-year-old defender Naomi Girma -- and explains how her unlikely rise to stardom was fueled by an entire community of people. Plus, why Girma, a first-generation Ethiopian-American, represents a new kind of American women's soccer star.

Read Gwen's full story about Naomi Girma.

Check out her podcast, Hustle Rule: The Untold Stories Of Women's Soccer

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Starting Five: A Mulleted Aussie Snatches The Claret Jug Jul 18, 2022

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Plus: One of baseball’s brightest young stars may be on the move. And the Chosen One takes his talents to a high school gym in South L.A.

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Spitting, Baiting, and Trick Shots: What Comes Next For Tennis’s Top Villain? Jul 15, 2022

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Last weekend, Novak Djokovic won his fourth consecutive WImbledon title. But the real story of the tournament wasn't the Serbian superstar. It was opponent in the final -- the highly polarizing Nick Kyrgios. The talented Australian dominated headlines for two weeks, thanks to his usual brand of entertaining, breathtaking tennis, coupled with a series of hotly debated actions -- spitting toward a fan, breaking Wimbledon's all-white dress code, and provoking one opponent into an uncharacteristic emotional implosion. Today, Matt Futterman of the New York Times explains the many complicated questions around tennis’s top villain, and why tournament organizers will or won't try to rein him in.

More from Matt Futterman: https://www.nytimes.com/by/matthew-futterman

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Yankees Dominance, Super Shohei, And One Unforgettable Pizza 🍕 Jul 13, 2022

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We have less than one week to go until the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, and during the first half of the season, we’ve seen a near-record-setting pace from the Yankees, more absurd pitching/hitting superlatives from Shohei Ohtani, and a Braves-Mets NL East showdown that is heating up in a hurry. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Stephen Nesbitt to look at one key storyline to watch in each MLB division. Plus, one of the wildest stories of the first half of the season, featuring an ejection, a heartbroken fan, and the pizza delivery that changed everything.

Read Stephen Nesbitt’s full story about Jesse Winker and the pizza delivery: https://theathletic.com/3384932/2022/06/27/jesse-winker-mariners-angels-brawl-pizza/

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Starting Five: An NBA Star Actually Wants To Stay Put? Jul 11, 2022

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Plus: Nick Kyrgios can’t upend Djokovic’s winning ways at Wimbledon. And MLB’s All Star Game turns into a family affair.

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The Legend of 'Mad Max' Scherzer, As Told By His Catchers Jul 08, 2022

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On Tuesday night, after seven weeks on the sidelines due to an oblique injury, 37-year-old Max Scherzer made his return for the Mets, and looked like… Max Scherzer — right down to a play where he nearly barreled over teammate Pete Alonso on a routine pop fly to first. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd, who recently talked to a number of Scherzer’s former catchers and coaches to get a better idea of what makes Scherzer so famously intense, why he’s sometimes able to channel Tiger Woods on the golf course, and his extreme passion for fantasy football.

Read the full story on Max Scherzer from Rustin Dodd and Jayson Jenks: https://theathletic.com/3336028/2022/06/27/max-scherzer-catchers-legend/

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A Life Lost, A Life Saved: College Athletes and Mental Health (Rebroadcast) Jul 06, 2022

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This spring, the tragic deaths of several college athletes again opened a conversation about mental health and college sports. In light of that, we’re replaying an episode that originally aired back in September, 2019. It's the incredible stories of two elite college football players whose lives followed very different paths – one tragic, and one uplifting – and what we can learn from their stories today.

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