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Former NFL Players Charged With Fraud Dec 18, 2019

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The FBI recently charged 10 former NFL players, including Clinton Portis, with defrauding a health care program meant to benefit retired players and their families. The indictment cites more than 3 million dollars in fraudulent claims for medical equipment, including a device normally used on horses. The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan joins us to break down this unusual case, to discuss what NFL players lives are like after they stop playing, and to consider the impact the lawsuit might have on other retired players.

Read Dan Kaplan's story about the alleged fraud:

https://theathletic.com/1458892/2019/12/13/payments-from-nfl-health-care-plan-allegedly-defrauded-by-ex-players-skyrocketed-during-period-in-question/?source=theleadpodcast

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Draymond Green Grows Up Dec 17, 2019

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The once untouchable Warriors are now the worst team in the NBA, with a 5-23 record. And the last man standing from the dynasty years, at least for now, is the notoriously intense Draymond Green. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater sat down with Draymond to talk about how he’s dealing with all this losing, how he's rehabilitating his offensive game, and growing up a bit in the process.

Read Anthony Slater's story about the new Draymond:

https://theathletic.com/1392188/2019/11/25/its-an-everyday-battle-to-let-go-of-that-will-to-win-draymond-greens-calm-approach-to-a-rare-losing-season/?source=theleadpodcast

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How A Tragedy Sparked Change In MLB Ballparks Dec 16, 2019

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After a 2-year-old was hit in the head by a foul ball back in May during a Cubs-Astros game, pressure began mounting on Major League Baseball to make stadiums safer for fans. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, who was at that game, joins us to talk about the incident, last week's announcement that MLB teams will be expanding protective netting, and how this new development might affect players and fans.

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Why Ohio Is Pulling For LSU's Joe Burrow Dec 13, 2019

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The Heisman Trophy Award ceremony is Saturday, and LSU's Joe Burrow is virtually certain to win. The Athletic's Jon Greenberg went to Burrow's hometown of Athens, Ohio and interviewed his family, friends, and former coaches to learn about the star QB's past and to see how people there have been following his success.

Read Jon Greenberg's story about Joe Burrow's legacy in Athens, Ohio:

https://theathletic.com/1420714/2019/12/05/i-played-against-joe-freaking-burrow-how-lsus-heisman-favorite-built-his-legend-in-southeast-ohio/?source=theleadpodcast

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Hedging The Mets Dec 12, 2019

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Longtime Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon are reportedly selling the team to billionaire hedge fund manager (and minority owner) Steve Cohen. Mets fans have long had a contentious relationship with the Wilpons, often criticizing them for mismanagement and not spending as much on free agents as their cross-town rivals the Yankees. The Athletic's Tim Britton joins us to talk about the sale and how it could shake up the organization.

Read Tim Britton and Marc Carig's story on Steve Cohen's bid to buy the Mets:

https://theathletic.com/1434004/2019/12/04/the-wilpons-are-negotiating-to-sell-the-mets-to-steve-cohen-what-does-it-mean-for-the-franchise/?source=theleadpodcast

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Patriots 2: The Spy Who Filmed Me Dec 11, 2019

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The Bengals have accused the Patriots of filming their sideline ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the two teams. Meanwhile, the Patriots say the hired cameraman was just shooting B-roll of a team scout for a documentary film. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to break down the accusations, the Patriots’ history of spying, and what the NFL might do next.

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Can Anyone Save The Knicks? Dec 10, 2019

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David Fizdale became the latest in a long line of head coaches to be fired by the New York Knicks on Friday. After missing out on the number one draft pick and free agent targets Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this summer, the Knicks began the season with a sense of disappointment -- and then got off to a 4-18 start. Kavitha and The Athletic's Frank Isola break down Fizdale's short tenure, two decades of franchise dysfunction, and whether or not any coach can resuscitate the long-suffering Knicks.

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The Ravens' Bet on Lamar Jackson Is Paying Off Dec 09, 2019

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The Ravens rattled off their ninth straight win on Sunday, defeating the Bills 24-17 and moving to first overall in the AFC. In the process, Lamar Jackson became just the second quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and the 22-year-old is seen by many as the leading candidate for league MVP. The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia joins us to talk about how the Ravens gambled on Jackson in the off-season by rearranging their offense to suit his incredible rushing skills, and to discuss whether the Ravens’ success with a dual-threat QB will become a blueprint for other teams in the future.

Read Sheil Kapadia's story about Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' new-look offense:

https://theathletic.com/1432135/2019/12/05/i-play-lamar-jackson-ball-how-the-ravens-built-the-nfls-scariest-offense/?source=theleadpodcast

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Andy Said Knock You Out Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

Andy Ruiz Jr. shocked the world in June by knocking out heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden. Joshua is 6'6" and sculpted, with endorsement deals from Hugo Boss and Beats (among others), and the Brit was considered by many to be the next great heavyweight. Meanwhile, Ruiz was a relatively unknown Mexican-American with a noticeably pudgy build who grew up fighting in the street. Now, the two heavyweights meet again on Saturday in a highly anticipated rematch. The Athletic's Mike Coppinger is in Saudi Arabia for the fight and joins us to talk about what to expect and why Ruiz's first victory might not have been a fluke.

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Malice at the Palace Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

The Pistons-Pacers brawl known as “Malice at the Palace” rocked the NBA fifteen years ago. Many people saw it as a low point for the league. The melee, which included flying beer bottles and fans getting punched in the face, forced the league to implement new rules in an attempt to recreate its image. With the Palace now being deconstructed, The Athletic’s Michael Lee joins us to look back at the infamous incident and to explain how the NBA bounced back from the bedlam to be bigger than ever.

Read Michael Lee's story about "Malice":

https://theathletic.com/1387698/2019/11/18/fifteen-years-after-the-malice-at-the-palace-how-the-nba-bounced-back-from-bedlam/?source=theleadpodcast

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