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WNBA Players (Finally) Get Paid Jan 21, 2020

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The WNBA signed a monumental collective bargaining agreement with the players union last week. The maximum player salary was nearly doubled, the league minimum was increased by 35 percent, and elite players could now see their total income more than triple. The deal also includes new allowances for travel and maternity leave. The Athletic’s Lyndsey D'Arcangelo joins us to discuss how the deal came about and what it means for the WNBA and women’s sports in general.

Follow Lyndsey D'Arcangelo's coverage of the WNBA:

https://theathletic.com/author/lyndsey-darcangelo/?source=theleadpodcast

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Super Bowl 54 Is Set: 49ers vs. Chiefs Jan 20, 2020

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After convincing wins yesterday, the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs have advanced to Super Bowl 54. The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia joins us to break down the two Championship games, to discuss what went right for the winners, and to talk about what to expect on February 2nd in Miami. Oh, and we also discuss Rob Lowe's hat.

Follow Sheil Kapadia's NFL coverage:

https://theathletic.com/author/sheil-kapadia/

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Will We Remember the Titans? Jan 17, 2020

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The Titans came into the playoffs as a long-shot Wild Card team. But after knocking off the Patriots and Ravens, Derrick Henry and Tennessee are the talk of the postseason. And in a league where passing is king, they’re winning with an old-school brand of smashmouth football. The Athletic's Joe Rexrode joins us to talk about how the Titans have pulled off this unlikely playoff run and just how far they could go.

Read Joe Rexrode's coverage of the Titans:

https://theathletic.com/author/joe-rexrode/

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How Jurgen Klopp is Hugging His Way to Dominance Jan 16, 2020

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Liverpool have been absolutely unstoppable this season. They now have a fourteen point lead over second-place Manchester City and are on pace to win their first league title in thirty years (among other historic accomplishments). Much of Liverpool’s success has been attributed to head coach Jurgen Klopp. The Athletic’s James Pearce joins us to talk about how Klopp has transformed the team through a rare combination of passion, tactics, and hugs.

Follow James Pearce's coverage of Liverpool:

https://theathletic.com/author/james-pearce/?source=theleadpodcast

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MLB Drops The Hammer on the Astros Jan 15, 2020

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Major League Baseball levied unprecedented penalties against the Houston Astro for electronically stealing signs in 2017, through the team's World Series run and into the 2018 season. Citing reporting from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in a statement that Astros Manager AJ Hinch and General Manager Jeff Lunhow would be suspended for the entire 2020 season. The team will also forfeit first round draft picks this and next year and pay a $5 million fine. Shortly after the announcement was made, Astros owner Jim Crane fired Hinch and Lunhow. The Red Sox also parted ways with manager Alex Cora, who was implicated in the report. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal joins us to break down the penalties and what they mean for the league at large.

Read Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich's latest reporting on the sign-stealing saga:

https://theathletic.com/1532175/2020/01/13/rosenthal-people-at-every-level-of-the-sport-bear-responsibility-for-baseballs-current-sign-stealing-mess/?source=theleadpodcast

https://theathletic.com/1531133/2020/01/13/hinch-luhnow-fired-as-mlb-report-reveals-details-of-astros-sign-stealing/?source=theleadpodcast

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LSU Won, Now Let The Draft Predictions Begin Jan 14, 2020

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Now that LSU has been crowned college football champions, it's time to look forward to the NFL draft. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is the consensus pick at #1 to the Bengals, but after that, anything can happen. As we enter the college football offseason, the combine and then the draft, there will be plenty of prognostication and projections. So who is landing where? The Athletic's Dane Brugler joins us to talk about his latest mock draft, where he projects where the top five players will land, and how Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could throw everything into complete chaos.

You can read Dane Brugler's mock draft projections here: https://theathletic.com/1530818/2020/01/14/2020-nfl-mock-draft-2-0-patriots-and-five-other-teams-land-a-quarterback-in-two-round-projection/

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What the Ravens' Loss Says About Lamar Jackson Jan 13, 2020

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After losing to the Titans on Saturday, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are out of the playoffs. That has sparked a debate around the team, its young star quarterback, and his ability to show up in big games. The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia joins us to break down the Ravens' loss to the Titans and to help us wade through the many opinions swirling around Jackson.

Read Sheil Kapadia's story about Lamar Jackson's playoff performance:

https://theathletic.com/1527621/2020/01/12/wading-through-the-takes-to-make-sense-of-lamar-jacksons-performance/?source=theleadpodcast

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How "Lil' Ol' Clemson" is Building a Big Ol' Empire Jan 10, 2020

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Clemson is about to play in its fourth CFP National Championship game in five years. But, historically, the Tigers have not been a top program. And in many ways, the deck is stacked against them. The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel joins us to talk about how Clemson has overcome the odds to become a dynasty-in-the-making -- and why they’re about to get even stronger.

Read Stewart Mandel's story about Clemson:

https://theathletic.com/1520803/2020/01/09/mandel-figuring-out-the-mystery-of-little-ol-clemson/?source=theleadpodcast

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Does D.J. Durkin Deserve a Second Chance? Jan 09, 2020

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Last week, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin made a controversial hiring decision: he brought in D.J. Durkin, who was fired by Maryland in 2018 after an offensive lineman died following a preseason workout. An internal investigation then revealed disturbing behaviors within the Maryland football program. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us to discuss that investigation, why Kiffin and Ole Miss are overlooking its findings, and whether or not Durkin deserves a second chance.

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The Red Sox Cheated, Too Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

An exclusive report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich reveals that the Boston Red Sox used video replay rooms to steal pitchers signs during the 2018 season, the year the team last won the World Series. Three people who were with the organization in 2018 told The Athletic that players would visit the replay room during games, learn signs and communicate them to batters at the plate through some intricate foot signals from runners on base. Since the story was published Major League Baseball announced it is launching an investigation into the Red Sox conduct.

You can read Rosenthal and Drellich's story here:

https://theathletic.com/1510673/2020/01/07/mlbs-sign-stealing-controversy-broadens-sources-say-the-red-sox-used-video-replay-room-illegally-in-2018/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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