The Lead

Latest Episodes:

How Pacman Jones Stepped In For A Fallen Friend Jul 12, 2023

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For football fans of a certain age, the name Adam “Pacman” Jones conjures up a certain set of memories. Jones was drafted sixth overall in 2005, and eventually became a Pro Bowler and All-Pro, but a wave of troubling off-the-field incidents trailed him during much of his career. However, what’s less well known about Jones is the story of a loss that changed his life — and ultimately, his family life — forever. Today, we look at how Jones emerged as a devoted father, and why his complicated life prepared him for what came next.

Guest: Zak Keefer, The Athletic

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Starting Five: Pinoe Passes The Torch Jul 10, 2023

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Plus: LSU makes history at the MLB draft. And a true long shot contender takes home the prize at the U.S. Open

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A $500 Million Bet On Women’s Cricket Jul 07, 2023

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A bunch of very wealthy Indian businessmen recently placed a very large bet on women’s cricket. The Women's Premier League launched in India in March, and by some measures it’s now the second most valuable women’s professional sports league in the world. Today, Mujib Mashal of the New York Times explains how the league came to be, and why it might line the pockets of the country’s elite, and give young girls in India a new vision for their future.

Guest: Mujib Mashal - South Asia Bureau Chief, The New York Times

Read Mujib's full story about the WPL here.

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The Pickleball Prodigy Jul 05, 2023

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Whether you think it's a passing fad or the greatest thing to ever happen to sports, chances are you've heard about the fastest growing game in the United States: pickleball. And lately, a sport without much history appears to have found its biggest star, who's been crushing her competition even though she's barely old enough to drive. Today, the story of how Anna Leigh Waters went from a kid with college soccer dreams, to a dominant pickleball pro — in a few short years. Plus, the sport has already gotten buy-in from Tom Brady and LeBron James, but how sustainable is its long-term future?

Guest: Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated

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Can Oakland A's Fans Save Their Team? Jun 30, 2023

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Long-suffering fans of the Oakland As have had a roller coaster of a season. To express their ongoing frustration with owner John Fisher, they initially began boycotting games. Then, two weeks ago, they staged a dramatic "reverse boycott," packing the stands for a game on a Tuesday night, which resulted in a surprise victory over the best team in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays. Now, with the city of Las Vegas appearing to have successfully lured the A's to a new stadium on the Strip, can Oakland fans do anything to save their beloved team?

Guest: Melissa Lockard, The Athletic

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The Deep Loss That Fuels Hockey’s Next Superstar Jun 28, 2023

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Connor Bedard, the presumed #1 pick in tonight's NHL Draft, is the most hyped hockey prospect we've seen since, well, some other guy named Connor. And there are those who believe Bedard could define a new era of the NHL. The Athletic's Dan Robson recently spoke with Bedard and his family at length, and he joins us today to discuss the 17-year-old's incredible rise as a player and the tragic loss that motivates him to this day.

Guest: Dan Robson, The Athletic

Read Dan's full story about Connor Bedard here.

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Starting Five: It’s Winner Take All In Omaha Jun 26, 2023

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Plus: Atlanta pumps the breaks on baseball’s hottest young upstarts. And the Liberty get a gutty comeback win ahead of a pivotal Eastern Conference clash.

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The Ugandan Teen With Big MLB Dreams Jun 23, 2023

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Earlier this summer in the MLB Draft League (a league for players looking to improve their draft outlook), a catcher from Uganda, Dennis Kasumba, stepped to the plate for the Frederick Keys… and struck out. For Kasumba, the result of the at-bat was a footnote — after a journey that took him from a slaughterhouse in Uganda to dreaming of Major League Baseball in the U.S. Today, the story of Kasumba’s baseball odyssey, the coach who believed the game could save him, and how a cell phone ultimately gave him a shot to pursue his dream.

Guest: Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times

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The Doomed Instagram Boxer Jun 21, 2023

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Back in April, two young fighters -- Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia -- stepped into the ring in Las Vegas to determine the "new face of boxing". But before the first bell even rang, a theory had built in the boxing world that one of these fighters didn't really belong. That one of them was for real, and the other was a phony, about to be exposed in a potentially dangerous fight. Today, we go inside a young man's doomed quest for boxing credibility.

Guest: Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times

Read Tyler's original story here

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Scoot Henderson, Number 1? That’s His Vision Jun 16, 2023

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The NBA Draft is less than one week away, and everyone expects French phenom Victor Wembanyama to go first overall. Everyone except Scoot Henderson. Two years ago, he became the youngest pro player in U.S. history when he joined the G League at age 17, and today, we look at the extreme steps that Henderson has taken as a player — and as a businessman — to guarantee NBA success.

Guest: Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic

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