Edge of Sports

This week we talk to former pro-bowler and Super Bowl champ Martellus Bennett about his new children’s book Dear Black Boy. The former NFL standout also talks about his upbringing, how he’s been doing post-football, and his creative projects. Also we got ‘Choice Words’ about Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and why he’s making it hard to root against the Patriots, ’Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit...

This week we speak to Kain Colter, former quarterback at Northwestern and current organizer with the American Federation of Teachers. We talked about his experiences at Northwestern, challenges that college athletes face, and the labor movement today.  Also we got ‘Choice Words’ about the picket line developing at the Super Bowl halftime show by artists,’Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards t...

This week we speak to NY Daily News sports writer Charles Modiano about his writing on the NFL's coaching hires over the last month: hires that have all but practically eliminated black head coaches from the league.  Also we also have ‘Choice Words’ about the case of Maori Davenport. If you don't know it, you should. In addition we have the ‘Just Stand Up’ award to tennis legend Andy Murra...

This week we pay tribute to filmmaker Bill Siegel who passed away last week. Bill Siegel is known as the director of what I believe to be the best boxing documentary ever made, The Trials of Muhammad Ali. We play an interview that the podcast did with Bill Siegel after the death of Ali in 2016. Also we have Choice Words about the late great Bill Siegel, his film The Trials of Muhammad Ali, and why...

This week we speak to Robert Abbott, director, producer, and narrator of the 30 for 30 film The Last Days of Knight. We talk to the director about his film, Neil Reed’s courage, and why the coach remains a compelling figure inside the world of sports.  Also we have Choice Words about the continued NFL collusion against Colin Kaepernick, specifically the Washington football team, Just Stand Up and...

This week we speak to the commissioner of the West Coast Conference, Gloria Nevarez, the first Latina commissioner of a Division I conference, about the challenges in a conference better known for schools like Gonzaga than Ohio State. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about the NFL’s hypocrisy and violence against women, ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to courageous current and former NFL pla...

This week we speak to Joshua Hunt, author of the new book University of Nike. He talks to us about the development of the multinational corporation, its relationship with the University of Oregon, and it’s connection to much of what we say today, including what is taking place at the University of Maryland.  We also have ‘Choice Words’ about the World Cup, the Olympics and Brazil’s recent election...

This week we speak to Anne Orchier, an activist with NOlympics LA about the upcoming summer Olympics in the city and the pervasive problems the city of Los Angeles is facing.  Also we’ve got ‘Choice Words’ about the importance of militant solidarity in the face or fascism after the week that was. We also have an unprecedented 4 ‘Just Stand Up’ Awards to the University of Maryland community, some c...

This week we speak to Jane Leavy, author of the new book ‘Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created.’ It’s a unique look at the foundational athlete of the 20th century and the birth of the modern celebrity athlete in American society.  Also we’ve got ‘Choice Words’ about the University of Maryland’s effort to perfume their toxic football culture. We also have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Dow...

This week we speak to economist Andy Schwarz about his Deadspin article “The NCAA Is Gaslighting You.” Schwarz’s piece looks at case in Oakland as well as the ongoing FBI case. We also talk about the Historical Basketball League, a potential college athletic alternative to the NCAA.   We also have ‘Choice Words’ about how sports could look in a different, more just world. We also have ‘Just Stand...

This week we forecast the NBA season with the one and only Michael Lee. Also we have choice words about the University of Maryland and elite football player Jordan McNair. I also have a historic just stand up and just sit down award, some words about Colin Kaepernick and WEB Du Bois and more. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about the University of Maryland and elite football player Jordan McNair,...

This week we speak to Brenda Tracy about her experience with sports and sexual assault as well as her mission to enlist football teams in the fight against rape. We also ask this outspoken survivor about Brett Kavanaugh, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, and the experience of the last several weeks. We also have some ‘Choice Words’ about Eric Reid’s return to the NFL, ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’...

This week we speak to Brian Hess, director of the Sports Fans Coalition, about sports gambling and how to empower sports fans. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about Brett Kavanaugh, high school sports and toxic masculinity. I also have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to the Carolina Panthers and Texas senator Ted Cruz, ‘Kaepernick Watch, and much more! Brian Hess Twitter: @blhess https://ww...

This week we come to you live from Solid State Books in DC to talk to Kevin Powell about his new book "My Mother. Barack Obama. Donald Trump. And the Last Stand of The Angry White Man."  We also have ‘Choice Words’ about the early retirement of Vontae Davis, ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Your Ass Down’ awards to a local editor and a racist school administrator, Kaepernick Watch and much mo...

This week we speak to Soraya Chemaly, author of the new book “Rage Becomes Her” about Serena Williams, Title IX, and how our society monitors women’s anger, particularly black women. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about the Serena-Naomi Osaka match as well as the response from some umpires in the aftermath. We got ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to Kenny Stills and a racist cartoonist, ‘Ka...

This week we speak about the new Nike ad campaign centered on Colin Kaepernick. We look at this collision of politics and commerce by speaking to Jim Keady, onetime soccer coach at St. John’s who lost his job after standing up to Nike’s deal with the university.  We also have commentary from Etan Thomas with a counter-view of this deal and what it means for the movement as well as Colin Kaepernick...

This week we speak to USA Today sports columnist Dan Wolken about Ohio State Buckeye football coach Urban Meyer and his three game suspension to start the 2018 season. We talk about the sport of college football, its mounting scandals, the NCAA, and what can be done to change them. We also have Choice Words about Kyrie Irving and his entry into the Standing Rock Sioux community. We also have Just...

This week we speak to Rob Ruck, author of the new book Tropic of Football: the long and perilous journey of Samoans to the NFL. We talk about the history of American Samoa and the importance of football to the islands. We also have ‘Choice words’ about the Dallas Cowboys, some special Just Stand Up and Just Sit Your Ass Down awards to Lebron James and Urban Meyer, as well as a special Kaepernick w...

Former - and we hope future - NBA player Royce White speaks about the suicide of one-time teammate Tyler Honeycutt. White also talks about NBA policy on mental health, his own challenges with the league, and the structural issues that need to be addressed. We also have Choice Words about the NFL owners latest anthem stumble and their inability to move past player protests. We also have ‘Just Stand...

This week, we speak to sports journalist and Burn It All Down podcast cohost Shireen Ahmed about the politics of the French World Cup team. Also I’ve got Choice Words about Golden State Warriors All-Star Draymond Green and his trip to Israel. We also got ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards to some previous recipients, and more! Shireen Ahmed Twitter: @_shireenahmed_ Burn It All Down Podcast...

This week we speak to Duke University professor and author of The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer, Laurent DuBois about the latest in the World Cup. Later in the show, we speak to Sporting News columnist David Steele about his longtime friend, sportswriter John McNamara, who was killed in the mass shooting at the Capitol Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland. We also got Choice Words about...

This week we speak to former US Olympic soccer player and the author of Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics, Jules Boykoff about the politics of the World Cup as well as the games themselves. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about why NFL owners have decided to punish those who protest during the anthem. We also have a ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ award for Devante Smith-Pelley and...

This week we speak to Britni de la Cretaz, journalist and writer, about her recent piece that went viral titled “”The Hidden Queer History Behind “A League of Their Own.”” This was a very informative conversation that examined the hidden relationships that existed during WW2 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (A.A.G.P.B.L.), and how women athletes navigated this terrain at such...

This week we speak to Mike Pesca from The Gist Podcast about his new book “Upon Further Review: The Greatest What-Ifs In Sports History.” This was a really fun conversation, and we talk about topics ranging from what if Muhammad Ali received draft deferment and Len Bias in a Celtics uniform to the reaction of Peter Norman had he raised his fist alongside John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the 1968 Ol...

This week we have Bijan Bayne, social commentator and author of the book Elgin Baylor: The Man Who Changed Basketball to talk the NFL, the new anthem polcy, and the unholy mess created by unaccountable billionaires.  We have ‘Choice Words’ about the White House’s decision to pardon Jack Johnson. We also have ‘Just Stand Up’ and ‘Just Sit Down’ awards, to Sterling Brown and a recurring figure, Kaep...